HACKING THE BILLIONAIRE (5 page)

Riley woke up with her head throbbing a little and a man’s arm flung over her. One of those sensations was nice. One was not, but she’d put up with the pain to bask in the feeling of safety the man’s arm over her provided.

She never would have guessed that she would like that. With Dirk’s manly, warm body pressed against her, nothing bad could happen. Having grown up an only child, she was fiercely independent. With her parents gone, she was alone in the world, and that was okay.

But at this moment in time, at this place in time, she felt safe and liked it. That both thrilled and scared her. She should get up. She should put her clothes on, but instead she stayed perfectly still, not wanting to disturb Dirk or this moment.

It could be the most perfect moment that she never knew she wanted. She sighed, then held her breath. She hadn’t wanted to make any noise.

Dirk slid closer to her. “Good morning, sunshine. How are you feeling?”

He snuggled her closer to him. Closer to his erection. Closer to that hard, warm man-body. In that moment, she realized why people married. They wanted this every morning. They wanted to begin their day with this.

It had a certain appeal. Too bad this scenario was only temporary.

“A small headache.”

“You want something for it?” he said.

“No, because I don’t want to move.”

“Well, I hope you want to move a little bit. I’ll make it worth your while.”

His breath and dirty words wafted across her ear, sending a thrill down her spine. This was truly sex on a stick.

She rolled in his arms. “I’m sure I can be persuaded to move. Just a little.”

The devilish grin on his face spoke volumes. Then he kissed her. That kiss spoke of the evil and wonderful things he wanted to do to her body. Then he kissed her neck. Then in between her breasts. Then he lifted her shirt up and kissed her stomach.

His teeth snagged the top of her sweats, and he pulled them down to her thighs. He kissed right above her mound; then his tongue came out to play.

He licked her folds. “A is for arousal.” He licked again, his tongue lingering. The sensation had her paralyzed. “B is for booty.”

Was he going to say the whole alphabet?

He did. Three orgasms later he said, “Z is for zipper, which I love pulling down on you.”

“Now I can’t move.”

He slid back up her body as he chuckled. “I’ll do all the work.”

He fished into his nightstand then rolled the condom onto himself. Her headache was a distant memory. Her focus was now on his body and the smile he wore. Her body hummed.

Entering her in one quick motion, he stopped when he hit bottom. She loved the sensation of fullness he brought to her. Her hands found his arms, and she held onto them as his muscles bunched.

He set up a rhythm, slow and torturous, and she wasn’t sure she could do anything about it. He was in charge this morning. Her body reacted to his and she had no control. No control. Another feeling she never thought she’d like.

He nipped at her neck. Her breath hitched and she couldn’t catch it. There was so much going on at the same time. If he’d been doing something wrong, she couldn’t have corrected him, because she could no longer speak.

She could just hold on and enjoy the ride. And she did. She threw her head back as another orgasm built. Her body wound tighter and tighter as he increased his strokes.

Something coiled inside of her then exploded as he slammed into her, her orgasm clearly making him follow her over the edge. Then silence as he slumped onto her. Not his full weight, but she didn’t care.

She liked the hard planes of his body against hers.

“Damn,” he said.

He’d felt it too. There had been more this time. Something had changed between them. She wouldn’t say it, but this had been more than sex. More than just two bodies satisfying themselves.

Holy shit. This was supposed to be a job. Part of her wanted to run from him. Never see him again, because that would happen eventually. Instead she lay there and blinked back the tears.

By the time Dirk recovered, she had a smile on her face. The emotions had been pushed down. They were not for public consumption.

He rolled off of her, dropped the knotted condom in a trash can by the bed, then snugged her up against him.

And she felt safe again.

“You hungry?” he asked.

“Yes, but I can wait a few minutes.”

She needed that to get her equilibrium back. She could lay here with her back to him and find her center again. Dirk had knocked her off it, and she needed to get back there. This man was dangerous because he was not offering forever.

He was not Mr. Right. He was Mr. Right Now. She had to remember that or get her heart broken.

“You are thinking very deeply,” Dirk said.

“No, I’m just enjoying the afterglow.”

“Okay.”

Her body still hummed from the orgasms. The twitching had stopped, but she wasn’t sure she could stand anyway. If the place were on fire, she’d have to be carried out.

“I’m sorry about last night,” she said finally.

She had been unprofessional.

“No worries. If you don’t drink champagne regularly it can hit you when you least expect it.”

“Thanks for being understanding, and I’m sorry I threw myself at you.”

“I’m not. I enjoyed it, even if I had no plans on taking advantage of it,” Dirk said.

She laughed. As cozy as this was, she needed to get up. She needed to get away from all of this so she wouldn’t crave it. “Okay, I’m hungry.”

“Go shower, and I’ll get some breakfast going,” he said.

If he treated his girlfriends this well, no wonder they didn’t want to leave him.

***

Dirk whistled while he cooked bacon. He stopped. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d whistled, let alone the last time he’d cooked anyone breakfast.

He surveyed his kitchen. He’d set two places at his breakfast nook. He’d even put out linen napkins. If Zeke could see him now. Dirk shrugged. He wasn’t going to think too deeply about it.

Riley entered the kitchen, fully dressed, but her hair still wet.

“Smells good,” she said.

“It’s just bacon for now,” he said.

He kissed her on the nose then realized that was an affectionate gesture.

Riley glanced at her phone in her hand. “I have a notification from that program I put in your firewall. Someone has gone through the back door.”

“Can you see who it is?”

“No. I’ll need my laptop,” she said.

Just like that, they were back to business. He’d hoped for a day without thinking about having a traitor in his organization. “We can get that after I shower.”

“You don’t have to come with me. I can get home by myself.”

“This is my company. It means everything to me to find this person.”

“Just because someone went through that back door does not mean that person is your traitor. It could be routine maintenance,” she said.

He didn’t want to get his hopes up. Then again, if he found the person, then Riley would be out of his life. He wanted her to stay and play a little longer.

He couldn’t decide, and that scared him. Not much in life scared him, but this woman managed to.

“You still want to check it out?” he said, flipping bacon.

“Yes, I do.”

They ate, and he showered and dressed then took her down to his car.

“You own a car in Manhattan?”

He smiled. “I do. I use it mostly when I want to get out of the city. Which we can do later if you want.”

He hoped he didn’t sound like a desperate puppy, but he enjoyed her company. He had the day free, so he meant to spend it with her.

“Where to?”

“Anywhere. We could go visit some wineries outside of the city.”

She looked at him, her expression odd as she slid into his Aston Martin. “You actually leave the two one two?”

“Yes, I do. My parents live in Connecticut,” he said. “I tend to fly to their house.”

He started the vehicle. It roared to life, and he knew he’d never get tired of those twelve pistons pumping up and down. Driving could be sexual, and he did almost get a hard-on when he could really open up this bad boy.

“Fly? As in an airplane?”

“No, helicopter.”

He pulled out of the spot then glanced back at her. Her mouth hung open.

“Helicopter? You own a helicopter?”

“I fly a helicopter,” he said.

That had been one of the great things about growing up rich. He learned to fly.

“Holy shit,” she said.

“We’re taking that to my parents’ house next weekend.”

“We are? You haven’t asked. You just assumed I was free.”

Right. He had to remember that she was here on business and that they weren’t really a couple. Except that they fucked like they were. So he forgot.

“Would you please come to my parents’ house next weekend?”

She frowned. “I’ll check my calendar.”

“It would give you a chance to meet my brother and sister who are responsible for my firewall.”

She tapped her chin then looked back at him. “I’ll clear my calendar.”

“Good.”

He pulled out onto the street, but of course this was Manhattan and he couldn’t get his baby going. Later, when they left the city.

He parked in the garage for Riley’s apartment then rode with her to her place.

He hadn’t ever gotten a good look at it. She didn’t show him around, just got to work. He sat next to her on the couch as her fingers flew over the keyboard. Made him think of her fingers on him, but he blocked that out. This was business.

Fun time would be later.

“Did you find anything?”

“Your brother did some routine maintenance, but it doesn’t look right to me.”

“What do you mean?” he said, leaning closer to her.

“Not sure. There are certain things you do to shore up the firewall. As new viruses and cyber-attacks come out, you update your code. This was updated, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen this code. I have no idea what it does.”

“Is it an immediate threat?”

“I don’t know. I’m going to have to reach out to one of the other hackers in the company. She may know what this is.”

“Do you need to talk to her?”

“No, I’ll send her the code in an e-mail. She may not be available today,” Riley said.

Dirk stood. “Send that e-mail, then let’s go find some wine to drink.”

Riley glanced at him as she typed on her laptop. “You don’t seem too concerned about it.”

“You haven’t given me enough reason to be concerned. Just because you don’t know what it is, does not mean its purposes are nefarious,” he said.

Besides, he wanted to spend the day with her, not think about who was out to get him.

“True. It’s your company,” she said.

She closed her laptop, smiled up at him, and then said, “Okay. Off to the winery.”

As Dirk drove them out of the city, Riley puzzled over the code she’d seen. Hopefully Joan would have an answer or know where to get one. Until then the problem would go into that unconscious part of her brain that solved things.

Now out of the city, Dirk took back roads, and he seemed to be enjoying his car very much. Riley wasn’t a car person, so she didn’t know to be impressed by it. The thing went fast and went around curves well.

“So what is this?”

“The car?”

“Yes, the car.”

“It’s an Aston Martin. A British car. Twelve cylinders.”

“I think mine only has four,” she said. “You drive it in Manhattan?”

“Very rarely. I save it for trips out of the city like this one.”

They arrived at the winery, and Dirk held the door for Riley. She couldn’t remember the last time a guy held the door for her. Maybe she was dating losers, like Joan said.

She approached the bar, which was made of stone with a Formica top. Behind it shelves held bottles of wine on their sides.

“Welcome to York Cellars,” a perky brunette said. “Are you here for a tasting?”

“Yes, we are,” Dirk said.

The girl put menus in front of them, along with pencils. “You get to choose six. I’m Paige, and I’ll pour them when you’re ready.”

The winery had seventeen varietals to choose from. “What do you like?”

Riley looked them over. “Not sure. Any suggestions? You seem to know about all of these things.”

“What wine do you usually drink?”

“The on-sale kind,” Riley said.

“Oh, Riley.”

He leaned against the bar. She liked the sound of her name in his mouth. He’d said it with a deep, throaty, exasperated voice. And a wry grin on his face.

“So help me pick.”

“How about I pick and we both taste the same ones. If we like one we’ll buy a bottle for dinner,” he said.

Dinner? He was planning on dinner? “We’re having dinner together.”

“Sorry. I forget. You have a mind of your own. Would you have dinner with me this evening? My place.” He leaned closer. “Plan to stay over.”

His voice in her ear sent a good chill down her spine. He was so sexy. How could she resist?

“I’ll come for dinner. Staying over is negotiable.”

He laughed. In that laugh like he knew she would be in his bed in the morning. She probably would be.

“Just pick the wine,” Riley said.

He marked six on the sheet, and then they waited for Paige to come back. She did. She poured the wine, describing it.

When she left, Dirk turned to Riley. “Now swirl the wine around.”

She did as he did and managed to spill some on the counter. “Whoops.”

“Not with such vigor,” Dirk said.

She shrugged and did it again, this time not spilling any. “Why do you do that?”

“It excites the esters. Now put your nose in the glass and tell me what you smell.”

She did. “Chocolate and berry.”

“Good. Now sip a little and roll it around your mouth.”

The burgundy liquid danced across her tongue. “I taste cherry and smoke.”

“Yep. Did it finish quickly or slowly?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you swallowed, did the taste linger or was it gone?”

She wondered whether his taste would linger or be gone when she swallowed. She almost laughed out loud at the thought. “Uh, it lingered, and I felt as if it dried out my tongue.”

“That would be a slow, dry finish. This is a Malbec. It will have that sometimes. Did you like it?”

She nodded. “Yes, very much.” She took another sip, finishing what was in the glass. “I never thought this much about wine.”

Dirk poured out the rest of his. “I have to drive, so I’m watching what I’m drinking.”

“You should have called your driver.”

Dirk laughed. “He does get days off.”

“Really? He isn’t at your beck and call?”

“No, he isn’t. I’m not a slave driver.”

She mulled that over. In her mind Dirk had people to wait on him all the time. His penthouse staff had either not been there or been so discreet she didn’t see them. “You have staff at your place?”

“A little, but I do like my privacy,” he said.

Paige came back and poured more wine, describing it again.

“This one should have more fruit in it,” Riley said. She swirled and stuck her nose in the glass. “Ooh, I smell it.”

She smiled up at Dirk, who looked down at her, amused. “Very good.”

They finished the rest of their tasting then grabbed lunch. Dirk bought two bottles of the Malbec before they left.

Riley slumped in her seat, enjoying the tiny buzz she had going on. “That was fun.”

“You like?”

“I did. I’ve never done that.”

“You look relaxed,” he said. “I think this is the first time I’ve seen you like this.”

“We work together, Dirk. I’m solving a problem for you.”

“Not just one problem, but a recurring one.”

She shifted to look at him. She didn’t know what he was talking about. Joan had not gotten back to her, and she didn’t see another message saying someone had been in the back door. “What recurring one?”

“My recurring hard-on.”

She giggled. She didn’t know why that seemed so funny. Must be the wine. She yawned. “I’m going to take a nap.”

“You should. You may not get any sleep tonight.”

The idea that they might have sex all night long did appeal to her. This man was going to be the death of her for sure. She’d enjoy dying of sex. Or lack of sleep. He was sexy and powerful and not her usual type. Why did she find him so attractive?

She puzzled over that as she stared out the window. The countryside flew by as Dirk drove them back to the city.

“If I’m to stay overnight, I need clothes.”

“We can swing by your apartment again.”

She yawned. “Maybe by then Joan will get back to me. I’ll bring my laptop in case she does.”

“There will be no work tonight.”

He made it sound as if his word was final. She was too tired to argue.

***

Dirk turned to Riley after he parked the car. She looked so sweet asleep. She’d let out a little snore every once in a while.

What the hell was she doing with him? She deserved someone who would love her and give her babies and a picket fence. Too bad he was selfish. He was going to have her for as long as she’d have him. Even though he knew he could not offer her marriage.

He was not the marrying type. That was Zeke and people like him. Dirk was not going to commit to one woman only to break her heart later on. No, this was business in a way, and Riley knew that.

Brushing a hair away from her face, he thought about just carrying her upstairs. He could do it. Would she hate it? Probably. Being independent, he didn’t think she would like it.

“Riley.”

She made a noise then blinked open her eyes. “I fell asleep. I’m sorry, Dirk.”

“You were a little buzzed. You slept it off. We’re home now.”

Home. His place, he should have said. Slip of the tongue. She was probably too sleepy to notice.

She stretched, yawned, climbed out of the car. She stretched again, looking like a cat.

They rode the elevator up. Her leaning against the wall. His gaze watching her every move. Sexy and lithe and his. For now.

“You want food?” Dirk said as he unlocked his front door.

“No. I’m still full from lunch. Probably why I fell asleep.”

When he closed the door behind them, then he brought her into his arms. He kissed her, igniting fires in his own soul when she kissed back. “I have another idea then.”

Rested her chin on his chest. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“We never stopped to get my stuff,” she said.

“We can go later.”

He didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to stop this moment. They would end up in bed again, and he wanted that more than anything. Something had changed as they sipped wine today. He wanted to explore it.

Or maybe she didn’t feel it.

“Okay.”

She took his hand and led him to his own bedroom. As if she owned the place. He wanted to laugh at her confidence. Her gumption on taking the lead in his place. That was so Riley.

Not being shy, she seemed to take what she wanted as much as he did.

She didn’t wait for him, just took off her shirt and bra. She stood for a moment in front of him, and he might was well have been a kid staring at a candy counter. They were beautiful breasts. Not too large. Not too small.

He knelt down in front of her and kissed them. “You are such a beautiful woman, Riley.”

She blushed. Even her breasts blushed. How could she not see who she was? She had no idea how the world viewed her.

How sweet and innocent in some ways.

Dirk undid her pants. Naked now, she climbed onto the bed. He disrobed and joined her, his dick ready for her.

“I want quick and dirty,” she said.

“Hot monkey sex,” he said as he kissed her neck down to her shoulder.

Her breath came out in pants. “Yes.”

So he obliged. He kissed as much of her as he wanted then poised his condomed self over her. “Ready?”

“Yes.”

He slid into her, but was not slow about it. No, this was fucking. This was sex, and her body arched up to him with each thrust. Her fingers dug into his back and her orgasm convulsed through her.

He couldn’t hold back. She’d milked him, and he was right there with her. It exploded out of him like a rocket. He couldn’t see, but some part of his brain kept him thrusting into her until they were both done.

That had been the most powerful orgasm he’d ever had. He didn’t want to think about why. That would go down a road he wasn’t willing to traverse.

“Damn,” she said.

“I know.”

He slid out of her, took care of the condom, then snuggled up against her.

“Must have been the wine.”

He chuckled. He’d go with that. “Sure.”

The phone on his nightstand rang. He didn’t want to be bothered, but knew by the ring it was the doorman, so he answered it.

Zeke was in the lobby.

“You okay for company?” he asked Riley.

“I just need a shower.”

“Okay. Zeke’s here. Not sure why, but if you want to stay out of sight you can,” Dirk said.

He pulled on his pants, his body sad for not being able to be next to a naked Riley anymore. Zeke must have some reason to be here.

They didn’t have plans as far as he knew. He would have cancelled them.

“I’ll shower and come out.” Though she didn’t seem to be thrilled with it.

“I’ll get rid of him.”

She bit her lip then nodded. “You want me to wait here.”

He grinned. “Oh, yes. Wait right there. Don’t put a stitch of clothing on, and I’ll get rid of Zeke.”

He left her under the covers, after kissing each breast one more time.

“Am I interrupting?” Zeke said when he’d been let up and Dirk opened the door.

“Yes. You are.”

Zeke looked at him, a frown on his face. “I was in the neighborhood.”

“Yeah? Not doing family things today?”

Zeke followed Dirk into his living room. The man seemed to be looking for something. Or someone.

“I’m going to a soccer game later,” Zeke said.

His gaze never met with Dirk’s. “What’s up?”

“I have something I have to tell you.”

“Oh?”

“This is really hard.” Then Zeke shook his head. “I don’t want to, but I think Riley tried to come on to me in the elevator.”

Dirk blinked. That didn’t seem like Riley, but why would Zeke lie? “You must be mistaken. She knows that you’re married.”

“I thought it odd, too,” Zeke said.

“Could you have misunderstood?”

Zeke put up his hands. “Maybe I did. Look. Forget I said anything. I’ve got to go.”

His friend left, but he left behind some doubt in Dirk’s mind.