His Big Reveal: An Interracial BWWM Billionaire Romance (BWWM Alpha Males) (23 page)

Chapter One

“I need to get laid,” Shelly murmured to herself as she shut off the lights and locked the door to her classroom and science lab. She knew it was inappropriate to be thinking about having sex with impressionable minds still in the building, but it was the truth. She was desperately in need of something…more. Excitement. Adventure. Orgasms. Her mind was occupied with thoughts of mystery men with bulging muscles and other things, magical tongues and capable hands when she heard footsteps closing in behind her. She took a deep breath to clear her mind just as her self-defense instructor had taught her.

“Hey Shelly how’s it going?”

She winced inwardly at the voice of the slimy literature teacher who couldn’t seem to take no for an answer. “Mr. Jeffers I’m well thanks. How are you?” She kept her voice as chilly as possible in hopes he wouldn’t linger.

He smiled while his eyes undressed her. “I’m doing much better now that I’m here with you.”

She rolled her eyes. Was she supposed to be impressed by his cheesy lines? “That’s great Mr. Jeffers. I really need to get going.”

His snake like pink tongue peeked out and moistened his bottom lip. “I told you Shelly you can call me Jim.” He stepped closer until she could smell that odd blend of musky cologne and blue cheese. “I was hoping to talk to you about our next date.”

Next date?
The guy spent most of the date talking about himself and his high school and community theater productions. You’d think he was putting on a Michael Bay film the way he rambled on and on. Plus his hands were everywhere but on his fork or wine glass. It was an unmitigated disaster, without a doubt. At least in her opinion. “I don’t think that’s a good idea Jim. We work together.”

He laughed. “We worked together when we went on our first date, what’s changed?”

It was that date that acted as a warning to her about dating her co-workers. One awkward evening and the next thirty years could be uncomfortable. “I hadn’t thought about it much until our date.” That much at least, was true.

“Come on Shelly I like you. I don’t even mind that you’re a little on the plump side. It just means I can ride you harder.” His condescending laugh and fingering one of her springy black curls pissed her off and it took everything in her not to slam him face into the concrete.

“How
kind
of you Jim. But I do mind and contrary to what you might think, I’m not so hard up for a date that I’d subject myself to you again.” She hiked her bag back up on her shoulder and turned away before she did him bodily harm. She was just thinking how Jim wasn’t the kind of guy to take a ‘no’ lying down when she felt his bony fingers sink into one of her butt cheeks. She turned on him quickly, bags immediately falling to the ground as her hand grabbed his arm and pushed his back until he was face down on the concrete. “Touch me again Mr. Jeffers and I’ll break this arm, do you understand me?” She let go when he nodded and released him.

“You’re a crazy bitch Shelly!” She kept her back straight and shoulders squared, sparing him no extra thoughts. He wasn’t worth it.

Sitting in her car for a few minutes Shelly tried to calm down. She was so sick of guys like Jeffers thinking she should be grateful for attention from scum bags just because she was a tad curvier than the average girl. Okay
more than
a tad but most days she thought she looked damn good. She was tired of that attitude which is why she’d given up dating for the past few years. She wanted a man she found so sexy she had dirty daydreams about him that made her blush. She wanted romance and laughter and orgasms. She
really
wanted orgasms.

Shaking off those thoughts before they got her in trouble, Shelly started the car and headed home.

At home she happily greeted her pet turtles, Jimi and Janis, while kicking off her shoes and putting on comfortable yoga pants with an oversized t-shirt. She poured a glass of wine and called her best friend, Cari.

“What’s up buttercup?” Cari was always such a breath of fresh air. She was a free spirit and didn’t let anyone else dictate how she should live her life or find her happiness.

“Not much the usual, cranky teenagers and gossipy teachers,” she sighed heavily for an exaggerated effect. “Oh and I had to take down Jeffers. Like physically take him down.”

“Damn girl, he still wants your sexy ass?”

She chuckled at Cari’s words. “Grabbed a big ol’ handful of it just before i made him kiss pavement.” He made her happy she’d committed to taking self-defense classes every year, along with martial arts courses to stay in shape and keep her cool.

“I’m happy you finally laid him out. He’s such a dick!” Jeffers had once told her she’d be hot if she were just Asian or Black, but she ‘didn’t wear the combo well.’ Cari had wanted to throttle him ever since.

“He is a dick but guys like him are only half my problem. I’m the other half.” She waited to let her words sink in. “I need more sexual experience so I’m more comfortable with men. I need to get laid, for my future.”

Cari laughed. “No you need it for mental health, just like the rest of us but sure, let’s say you need to get laid for your future husband.” The phone fell on the other end, followed by a few creative swear words. “Tomorrow after work we’ll do some shopping and then on Saturday we’ll go hunting for your sex god.”

~

It’s a damn shame when a man has to hide out in his own office,
Jase Nilson thought as he sought refuge in the office of his newest club,
Lush
. One of the pitfalls of owning the hottest club in town is the groupies. They’re relentless, creative, ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to get a piece of the pie. Some just wanted to be seen on his arm but most wanted the perks they associated with dating a very wealthy man.

Sugar was the latest groupie to put Jase on her ‘to do’ list and he wasn’t interested. She filled out a miniskirt like nobody’s business but she was vapid and made no secret she was out for a man with tons of money.
Nope, no thank you. Not interested.
Sugar showed up under the guise of spending time with him but he’d had his partner and best friend, Ryan distract her with his dimples and voracious sexual appetite. Ryan could always be counted on to step in and get the groupies off his back, which is why Jase put up with his revolving door of micro-girlfriends. He didn’t know how Ryan did it, pick up a girl and have a weeklong relationship and leave without any hard feelings. The man was a pro.

Unfortunately for Jase he was no longer interested in the young women barely dressed and throwing themselves at him. He knew he was an attractive guy but he wasn’t foolish enough to believe it was his handsome face and sexy lips that drew women in, it was his bank account. He was done with that though and ready for a beautiful, honest woman who saw forever when she looked at him, not dollar signs.

A few loud bangs against the wall and loud moans broke him from his thoughts and he knew it was time for a break. He grabbed his jacket and banged on the wall as he walked by, “Going out for lunch, Ry. Later.”

An hour away from the club and everything that came along with it was just what he needed. Not that he didn’t love the club, he did. It, along with his other clubs around the country, gave him the wealth and the lifestyle he’d only dreamed about growing up. But when a man was looking for something more than one night or a string of one nights, he wasn’t likely to find it with club girls. That left very little time for him to meet the
right
kind of girl.

He turned the corner and spotted his favorite diner,
Louise’s
and walked in with a big appetite. “Hey Louise, looks busy. Any seats for me?”

The older woman with the bright red hair and swinging ponytail gave him an
are you crazy
look and told him, “Find a seat and take it.”

He watched Louise walk the opposite way with a tray full of plates and did as she asked, he scanned the dining room and found a lovely caramel skinned woman sitting alone. Jase straightened his clothes and walked over with confidence. “Do you mind if I join you?” When she looked up he was struck by the gorgeous creature with eyes the color of honey and plump pink lips perfect for kissing. “It’s kind of crowded in here and I don’t want to eat at my office.”

Her smile widened at the sexy man standing in front of her. “Yeah sure, have a seat.” She leaned over the table to grab her shopping bags and sat them next to her. She smiled up at him again and waited for him to sit. “I’m Shelly,” she extended her hand and felt a jolt when his big hand engulfed hers.

“Jase,” He squeezed gently and tried to ignore the sizzle her small hand caused. He picked up the menu and scanned even though he knew he would get the fried chicken special. “What did you order?”

Shelly’s smile was sheepish. Of course she decided to pig out on the day the sexiest man she’d ever been so close to was her lunch companion. “I got the chicken,” she mumbled.

She was so damn sexy but that embarrassed look that crossed her face was adorable. “Not the grilled chicken I hope? Don’t tell Louise but it’s dry enough to soak up ketchup.” He watched Shelly fight the laughter building inside her until she broke. Her laughter was melodic and deep, touching something deep inside him.

She sat back her laughter slowly fading. “Now I’m not so embarrassed to say I ordered the fried chicken.” She heard the sigh that came from her mouth when he unleashed that high voltage smile on her.

“A woman after my own heart. That’s my favorite thing on the menu here.” He put the menu down and looked at her in mock seriousness. “Now explain to me why you’d be embarrassed about the fried chicken. I take this very seriously and there’s nothing embarrassing about fried chicken.”

Why did he have to be so handsome?
She just wished the universe could have helped her a little by starting with a normal sexy man, not this otherworldly, godly creature before her. “To be honest, I should probably have gotten the cardboard grilled chicken. It’s healthier and I’m trying to, you know.” She was mortified at having his conversation with the perfect physical specimen in front of her, who, of course would never understand how hard she worked just to look like this.

He nodded sagely, his expression very serious. “I see. Does it take disgusting, tasteless food to look so hot?”

Now it was Shelly’s turn to laugh. “Good one, Jase.” She gave him a small smile of gratitude for trying to make her feel better. “Thanks for that.”

“You have nothing to thank me for. I should be thanking you for the lovely lunchtime view.” He winked.  “Now tell me Shelly what do you do for a living?”

“I’m a high school chemistry teacher.” She wanted to laugh at the way his eyes bugged out of his head.

“No way.” He sat back, hand clutching his chest. “I wish my high school chemistry teacher looked like that. I’d probably work for NASA today.” He bet all the high school boys went crazy in her class.

She smiled small. “You don’t have to say that, Jase. I’ll still let you eat with me.” Louise appeared with two plates filled with her crisp fried chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and buttery biscuits.

“I figured you’d get your usual,” she told him and turned her gaze to Shelly, “He always goes after the prettiest girl in the room sweetie. Make him work for it.” She winked and left.

She bit the inside of her cheek to stop the tears threatening at the older woman’s kind words. It was hard to believe but, but she thought Louise was sincere. She turned that golden gaze back to Jase. “So you always pick up girls at Louise’s?”

His smile was flirtatious. “No, never actually. I love this place too much to have to avoid it.”

Shelly’s smile fell but she tried to hide it. Of course he wasn’t trying to hit on her.
Stupid.
He’s just being nice. “Oh. Okay.” She forked some mashed potatoes in her mouth and concentrated on her food. It was fine, she didn’t expect a man as hot as Jase to be interested in her. There had to be something between Jeffers and Jase. 
It was nice to dream for a minute,
she thought, savoring those moments when she thought he was actually interested in her.

Jase watched the gorgeous woman in front of him wilt and he didn’t know why. He felt his heart break when the spark went out of those sexy amber eyes. “What did I say Shelly? Tell me.”

She shook her head, a small watery smile on her face. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

He released a weary breath. “Was it something I did?” At her confused look he clarified, “Was it something I did that will prevent you from saying yes if I ask you out?”

“What?” She’d only been half listening but as his words registered she shook her head, “Oh Jase, you don’t have to. I mean, I wasn’t angling for a pity date or anything.”

“What?” Did she seriously think he pitied her? “If anything it’d be you taking pity on me and saying yes.”

“Why?”

He took in her crossed arms and tried to ignore the sexy cleavage peeking from her nerdy chemistry tank top and the firm set of her jaw. He knew his answer was important. “Because you’re sexy as hell, you have a great laugh and you love fried chicken.” He leaned in and whispered, “Plus I can’t stop thinking about what you’d look like wearing nothing but a smile.”