His Heart (By His Command #9) (billionaire romance / romantic suspense) (4 page)

“
Yes,” he said.

He came at me and I fell back to the bed. His hands took comfort at my breasts, holding them, massaging them. He guided his thickness back me and with one hard thrust, he was right back to where he was a minute ago.

His right hand stayed in place on my left breast, but his left hand played. He cupped under my breast. Using his thumb, he flicked at my nipple, teasing me. Then he used his thumb and pointer to squeeze at my nipple, bringing a stinging sensation that mixed with the pleasure between my legs. I moaned and thrust at him.

When Jonathan thrust again I felt his body thickening. He stared at me with his intense eyes and I could sense it happening. The rush between his legs. The need to climax. I moved with Jonathan, as fast as I could, wanting to feel it. His hands were both at my breasts again, squeezing harder than ever. I cried out for him and then listened to him grunting. All seconds before he came.

The rush came and poured inside my body. He continued to fuck me as he came, making the erotic mess hotter, wetter, and more pleasure filled. With each slow, deep thrust, I felt our orgasms mixing. When he finally pulled out of me for good, he grabbed the belt around my wrists and pulled. I sat up on the bed, my legs open, dress pulled up from the bottom, dress pulled down from the top with my breasts exposed.

“
You really are amazing,” he said to me as he gently touched my face.

“
Thank you, Mr. Black,” I whispered.

“
Good girl.”

He grabbed at the belt and slowly took it off my wrists. His cock still hung from his pants as he did so, leaving me distracted and still turned on. He tucked himself away and put the belt back on his pants. He adjusted his shirt and tie, and just like that, he was back to his sexy, commanding presentable form again.

Watching him made me smile.

Jonathan Black was definitely a man worth killing for.

-6-

Waking to an empty bed scared me and surprised me all in the same breath. I was scared because the first thing I thought about was Katherine. I wondered what kind of evil hell she had spread the night before while the world slept. I wondered if she did anything to Kellen, to Mr. Denninbraugh, or to Jonathan Black. I worried she was coming after me. I knew it was no way to function in life, which is why if things went my way, it would end. Very soon.

I touched the empty spot on the bed in the midst of a mild panic but then heard the sound of the running water. I sighed and smiled, but then a wave of terror came over me again.

Could I even trust that?

It was a sickening thought. Hearing the water should have been proof enough that Jonathan Black was alive and well, but it wasn’t. Katherine was crazy enough to set up a scene for me to find. Perhaps she was the most wicked person in the world right then.

I walked across the hotel room with a bed sheet wrapped tight around my nude body. At the bathroom I listened for a second, not sure what I expected to actually hear. I opened the door as slow as possible. I didn’t want to disturb Jonathan Black or make him upset. When I saw his figure in the shower, I waited a few seconds to see if he moved.

He did.

He was okay.

Alive, ready for another day.

Another day that included loving me.

But another day that included the existence of Katherine. The existence that could change anything and everything without warning.

I watched his figure move around the shower. The outline of his body alone was enough to die for. To imagine that the body I stared at had been on top of me, behind me, pleasuring me, loving me... I was the luckiest person in the world.

A knock at the hotel room door ended my enjoyment. I scrambled to close the door without getting caught, a knock came at the door again. I knew I wasn’t properly dressed to answer the door but I figured Jonathan must have ordered us breakfast.

I opened the door without checking, like a fool, and when I saw Kellen standing there, I almost collapsed.

I held the door and looked over my shoulder.

What the hell would happen if Jonathan came out of the bathroom right then? And saw Kellen?

I looked at Kellen and he looked defeated, beat up, and used.

“
Kellen,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

“
She wanted me to give you something,” he said.

“
Who?”

“
Katherine.”

My eyes widened and my heart felt like it missed a few beats.

Katherine.

Just like that, the entire morning changed. The sexy images of Jonathan showering were replaced by the sultry images of Katherine’s body, vicious fingernails, and deep desire to harm Jonathan.

“
Are you okay?” I whispered to Kellen.

“
I’m always okay,” Kellen said.

He looked like Kellen, but he didn’t act like Kellen.

He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to me.

“
What is it?” I asked.

“
I don’t know. She told me she’d kill me if I read it.”

“
How would she know if you read it?” I asked.

The power of Katherine was really getting on my nerves. Her idle threats...

“
How did she know Jonathan was in the shower?” Kellen asked.

That froze my blood for more than a second.

“
What?”

“
She told me that Jonathan was in the shower and it was my chance to bring this to you. If I didn’t or if I read the paper, I’d die.”

My bottom lip started to quiver.

How did she know? Were there cameras in the hotel room?

If there were cameras... all I could picture then was Katherine watching what happened between Jonathan Black and I. Him tying me with the belt. Tearing my dress. Enjoying my body. What if she saw me trying to practice stabbing with a knife? Or...
the gun
. Had she watched me find the gun in Jonathan’s closet?

“
Oh, Isabella Grace,” Kellen said. “I wish you could just see it all.”

“
See what?”

Kellen reached forward and touched my bottom lip. His thumb caressed it, putting it at ease.

“
Just see it all,” he said. “This is your life. Now and forever.”

“
If it’s so bad, why are you still here?” I asked. “You have money and power. Why bother now?”

“
I can’t bear to leave you,” he said.

His eyes were sincere, his face chiseled in a way so different from Jonathan Black. He had command, but it was an innocent looking command.

“
Kellen...”

“
I’ll wait for you,” he said. “You’ll see.”

“
No,” I said. “I won’t. You can waste your life, but you can’t be near me.”

“
Why? Is he going to kill me?”

There was a flicker of a smile on Kellen’s face. I wasn’t sure if it was him teasing me or being serious. Whether he cared or knew it, that’s what would happen. If he lingered or got too close, over and over, Jonathan would take care of him.

Or maybe I would...

I closed my eyes for a second, calming my nerves and reminding myself that I had only stabbed two eggs. I had no experience in killing.

“
Kellen, just go,” I said. “You gave me what you needed. Now go.”

I looked over my shoulder again. I hoped Jonathan would stay where he was, in the shower, with his mind and thoughts.

“
Fair enough,” Kellen said. “But I’ll be waiting for you, Isabella Grace. You’ll wake up someday and realize it. Realize that Katherine won’t stop. That Jonathan Black won’t stop. And I’ll be there. We can go anywhere you want. Anywhere in the entire world. Live happy and free. In love.”

“
Goodbye,” I said and shut the door.

I turned and fell back to the door, wanting to scream and maybe even cry. I looked at the piece of paper in my hand. I opened it and found my hands shaking already. Anything to do with Katherine made me shake. Even a piece of paper.

It was a note from Katherine. Handwritten with pristine writing.

Of course. Everything about Katherine was perfect.

I’m still waiting, Isabella. The clock is ticking. A phone will be waiting for you soon.

The dangerous and cryptic words shook me to my core. I rushed to the kitchen and tore the note to pieces and threw it all away. I looked at the knives and really pictured it now. I could see it happening. Taking a knife, getting to Katherine. Ending it all.

I could do it.

The water turned off in the bathroom and I rushed back to the bed. I waited there, wrapped in the sheet. Jonathan came into the bedroom looking gorgeous as always. He stared at me as he stood on the side of the bed and I smiled at him.

“
Busy day?” I asked.

“
Yes,” Jonathan said. “Yes.”

“
My meeting with Mr. Denninbraugh is happening today.”

“
That’s good.”

“
I suppose, Isabella Grace.”

There was something in Jonathan’s eyes. Something he wasn’t telling me. That was fine by me. The more Jonathan went on with his normal life - managing his multi-billion dollar empire - the more time I’d have to figure everything else out.

He dropped his towel, standing nude for me for a few seconds. It was enough to make me melt everywhere. I didn’t speak a word while he dressed. Watching him dress to become the powerful billionaire the world saw him as was beautiful. I was the one who got to see Jonathan Black as the powerful billionaire in the bedroom. The world got to see him in a suit. They got to experience his action through decision. In the bedroom I got to see - and feel – his command in action.

He pulled his tie up and stretched his neck.

“
I promise you,” Jonathan said, “things will calm soon. I can feel it.”

“
I believe you,” I said.

“
There is always business to conduct, Isabella Grace, that of which I’m sure you understand.”

“
Yes.”

“
But there are annoyances all around, aren’t there? Those who can’t become me who try to take me down. It’s quite funny actually.”

His words seemed almost as cryptic as Katherine’s note.

...things will calm soon...

What did that mean?

Was he going to kill someone? Katherine?

Panic hit my heart wondering if maybe I was going to get in the way. I had no idea what Mr. Denninbraugh actually did. I couldn’t remember a time when Jonathan Black depended on someone else... the only time that came close was when Katherine poisoned him and Dr. Ace saved him after Katherine poisoned him. But even then, the doctor knew it was his job to do it and nothing more.

Something big was happening in the background of it all. If it was to harm Katherine... and I was in the way...

Jonathan faced the bed and smiled at me.

“
Very soon,” he whispered. “Very soon. I won’t be back until this evening, Isabella Grace. You have everything you need. Along with a security team at your call. If you feel anything or get worried...”

“
Thank you,” I said. “I love you, Jonathan.”

“
I love you too.”

It was no more than five minutes after Jonathan left when I heard a
thunk
sound at the hotel door. It wasn’t a knock. It was like someone threw something at the door.

I closed my eyes when my heart began to race.

I knew what I’d find before I even opened the door. And my thoughts were confirmed when I did open the door.

There it was.

On the floor in the hall.

Another cell phone.

-7-

I took the phone and slammed the hotel room door. I went to the kitchen counter, next to the knives. I grabbed the butcher’s knife and placed it on the counter next to the phone. I swallowed hard and tried to regain some normal breathing. My thoughts were out of control and to imagine Jonathan Black in a limo right now, our distance growing by the second, made me want to scream.

He had arranged security for me, sure, but I knew the truth. And the truth was that there was no security from Katherine. She would do whatever she wanted when she wanted. The only true security from Katherine...

I looked at the knife.

Death.

A few seconds later, the phone vibrated as a text message appeared on the screen. Seeing the text message pop up took me back to everything. How Jonathan and I had to flee to his father’s cabin. To how his father acted and how it appeared his father had become a hero. To the phone in his father’s jacket. The phone meant for me. The phone that started this... this beginning of the end.

The text was simple yet scary.

Good morning.

I hated Katherine so much that even the smallest words got to me.

I wrote back without the same gentle conviction.

What do you want?

I sent the message but my mind kept going.

I’m going to kill you, Katherine. You’re not going to touch me. Or Jonathan.

Katherine replied...

Hope you slept well. Jonathan is gone for the day I see. You must be so lonely up there. Come down and see me.

I curled my lip and gritted my teeth. I looked at the knife on the counter. Could this be the time to do it? Jonathan was gone...

But, no.

I couldn’t.

Not with Jonathan gone.

I needed him to be close so he could see it and then clean it up. I couldn’t just have a dead body in the hotel without Jonathan near to protect me. We’d have to escape the hotel, the city, the state even. Like before. And if he was working with Mr. Denninbraugh...

Shit.

I’d have to wait.

I’m not leaving the hotel today.

That’s what I wrote back. If Katherine wanted me, she could come get me.

Oh, Isabella. You foolish woman. I’m in the same hotel. Directly under you.

I pushed the phone from the counter and let out a whimpering cry. Of course she was in the hotel. How could I be so stupid? She had a hotel room across the street and in the same hotel as Jonathan and I. She was that insane.