Stirring Up Trouble (Inspiring the Greek Billionaire) (11 page)

“Fucking beautiful,” he said, shaking his head and kissing her gently on the mouth. “One more,” he demanded as he resumed moving inside her.

She relaxed her head on the pillow and decided she didn’t want to disappoint him.

CHAPTER 14

A lady, sir, though it was said she much resembled me,

was yet
of many accounted beautiful. But though I could not

with such estimable wonder overfar believe that, yet thus

far I will boldly publish her: she bore a mind that envy

could not but call fair.

William Shakespeare,
Twelfth Night
, act 2, scene 1

Lola’s warm soft body snuggled up to him, the curve of her ass nestled between his thighs. Braden’s cock hardened as she purposely teased it with gentle prodding. A week of waking up with her hadn’t decreased his desire for her. If anything, he was getting far too used to it. In just one more week, she’d pass her audits, gain her record deal, and take off for California. They hadn’t spoken about it, not wanting to spoil the time they did have together.

Ignoring it for another moment or two, he reached for a condom on his nightstand and quickly sheathed himself before lifting her leg and sliding into her.

It was heaven and hell all at once. Heaven, because she felt so good, he never wanted it to end. Hell, because it felt so good, he’d never last. Her soft sighs turned into labored gasps as she got close to her orgasm. He delved a finger into her folds and gently rubbed the small bundle of nerves at the top of her core, pushing her over the edge. When she cried out his name and convulsed around his cock, he gave himself permission to climax and exploded in bursts of pleasure.

He brushed her hair aside and planted a kiss on her naked shoulder. “Good morning. Time to get to work.”

She rolled over to face him. “What first, teach?” she teased, caressing his nipple with the back of her hand. “Are you going to give me an oral exam?”

“Tempting, but no,” he said. When she gave him a fake pout, he added, “At least not until tonight.” He winked playfully then smacked her ass before getting out of bed to dispose of the condom.

Because they knew they’d never get to
Acropolis
if they showered together, they continued their morning ritual of getting ready in separate rooms. She kept her clothes and toiletries in her own suite, but she spent each night in his bed. He’d never slept more soundly than when she lay in his arms.

Zeus strutted in the room, his silver tail swishing behind him. The cat had impeccable timing. He’d leave them to their privacy as they made love, then come back afterward and resume his spot at the bottom of the bed. Sometimes, Braden felt like the cat was smirking at him. Cats didn’t smile, did they?

After patting the cat on the rump, Braden went downstairs to make coffee and strolled into the kitchen, pleasantly surprised to find Lola had beat him to it.

“I hope you don’t mind. I’ve watched you make it a few times, so I thought I’d try it out. I can’t guarantee I didn’t add too much of the cinnamon and sugar to the grounds, so if you’d rather start over—”

He swooped down and seized her lips, tasting sugar on his tongue. No matter how many times he said he’d cook her a proper breakfast, she’d continued to eat a strawberry Pop Tart for her first meal. She claimed it gave her the energy she needed to get her through the day, and based on her energetic enthusiasm each night in bed, he couldn’t argue with her.

Slowly pulling back from the kiss, she smiled. “I guess you don’t mind.”

Not only didn’t he mind, he fucking loved it. She had just made them coffee, but to him, the coffee represented more than a beverage. Lola had made herself at home. It should have terrified him, but instead he wanted to raise her skirt and make love to her on the kitchen table. It didn’t matter that he’d been inside of her a half-hour earlier, he was always ready for her, and since she never wore panties, he’d discovered she was always ready for him.

“No. I don’t mind. I told you when you moved in here, help yourself to anything. I’ll even give you the code to my wine cellar.”

Her hand flew to her heart as she dramatically exclaimed, “Oh, my goddess, your wine cellar? Now I can finally carry out my nefarious plan of robbing you of all your wine. And all it took was a week in your bed pretending to enjoy myself for you to hand over your most valued possession.”

He braced his hands on the counter on either side of her and trapped her between his legs. “
Pretended
to enjoy yourself? You didn’t enjoy those three orgasms last night?”

In response to his reference to all the dirty things they’d done to each other the previous evening, her lips quivered and her pupils dilated. “I did. And even if I
had
planned to steal your most valued possessions, I would’ve changed my mind. I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt you like that, just like I know you wouldn’t intentionally hurt me.”

Guilt as sharp as the tip of one of his carving knives sliced through his gut and left it aching. She could never know he’d originally planned to seduce her in order to keep her from selling the property. He regretted the reason he’d been determined to get her in his bed, but not the outcome. It may have started as a way to save his restaurant, but the dreams made it clear. Lola belonged to him. At least until she left for California.

Their sexual relationship made it that much easier to create music together, the words and melodies flowing like his favorite wine. They’d composed nine songs so far, but they still hadn’t found the one they felt would impress the producer enough to offer her a contract.

He leaned in, his lips hovering over hers. “The wine isn’t my most valued possession.”

She inhaled sharply. “No?”

He shook his head and held her face in his hands. It was time to make his true feelings for her clear. “Lola—” The loud ringing of his doorbell pierced the moment. She jumped back a step, and he swore under his breath. “Who could be here this early?”

“Ex-girlfriend, maybe?” she said nonchalantly.
Hmm, is that jealousy in her tone?

They walked out of the kitchen and made their way to the front door. The last person he expected to see on his doorstep was his sister, Rosalind, with a suitcase.

“You are not going to believe what mother—” She stopped and stared with surprise at Lola who stood behind him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to have company. You’re Viola, right?” she asked shyly.

“Lola,” she corrected, moving next to Braden and offering her hand. “Come in, it’s cold out there.”

Snow fell steadily to the ground. Since they’d gotten home last night, they must have accumulated at least three inches.

Rose stepped inside and Braden shut the door. He took his sister’s coat and hung it in the hall closet.

Lola stayed by the door, looking uncomfortable. “We didn’t really get a chance to talk at the engagement party. Braden’s told me a lot about you.”

Rose’s gaze bounced back and forth between Lola and Braden, obviously confused. “Are you visiting?”

Braden threw his arm over Lola’s shoulder. “She lives here.”

Lola smiled really wide and he immediately recognized it as the same fake smile she gave Jon. “Well, not really. It’s only temporary. I have an apartment, but Reina—I’m sure you remember my mom from the party?—she’s staying with me to help Portia get ready for the wedding, and Braden was kind enough to let me stay here because living with my mother is just too close for comfort.” She took a breath.

Rose nodded and slid a glance at her brother. “I can understand that.”

Braden couldn’t help but feel offended by Lola’s explanation. Sure, that’s why she’d stayed here initially, but it had turned into more than just a convenient place to stay. Hadn’t it?

Lola turned to Braden. “I think I’ll take my own car to
Acropolis
this morning so you and your sister can talk.”

In the last week, they’d driven to work together and hadn’t been apart for more than a few minutes at a time. Funny how in such a short period, he’d come to rely on their routine.

Rose’s face crumbled. “No, you don’t have to do that. Braden and I can find a more convenient time. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” His sister had a guilt complex the size of Texas.  

Why was she here? She was supposed to be in Athens with their mother.

Lola opened the closet and pulled out her coat. “You didn’t interrupt anything but breakfast, and I already ate.” She grinned at him. “I’m sure your brother would love to cook you some eggs.”

Rose grimaced. “I’m more of a Pop Tart kind of gal.”

Braden frowned. What was it with the women he lo—he halted that thought—these women and their Pop Tarts?

Lola laughed. “I like you. If you’re staying in town, maybe we could hang out together.” After slipping on her coat, she crossed to him. Thinking she’d kiss him goodbye, he lowered his head, but instead she slugged him in the arm. “I’ve got some manuals to read this morning anyway. You can test me later.”

He winked. “You can count on it. Don’t forget tonight’s oral exam.”

Her breathing hitched and she froze, but she quickly recovered. “Right. Nice seeing you again, Rose.” She took off so fast through the front door, she practically ran.

He’d have to find out what that was all about, but first things first. He led his sister into the kitchen and they sat at the table, drinking coffee together like old times. “What are you doing back in Michigan, Rosalind?”

“Are you and Lola a couple?” she countered, a glimmer of defiance in her eye.

“That’s none of your business. Tell me what happened with mother in Athens.”

She worried her lip and crossed her arms. “Mother’s getting divorced.”

He wasn’t surprised. She got divorced like other people got haircuts. Regularly. “I’m sorry to hear that. But why does it bother you? It’s not the first time, and you know it won’t be her last.”

“I know. It’s
why
she’s divorcing I’m upset.” She started to cry. “She’s already engaged to another man. David. She had an affair with him and they got engaged even before she told husband number five she was leaving him.”

He stood, got a box of Kleenex, and brought it over to her. “I can see why that would upset you,” he said even though he didn’t. She’d never cried over their parents’ divorces in the past.

She dabbed at her tears with a tissue. “Oh, there’s more, Braden. David is twenty-five years old.” She looked down at her lap. “I first met him in film school. We had a final project together, so he spent a good amount of time at the apartment. Mother showed up one night claiming she missed me and wanted to spend some time with me.” She laughed bitterly. “Now that I think about it, she’d probably left Gregory and needed somewhere to go. Stupid me, I thought she really wanted to mend our relationship. She took me on shopping sprees and fancy dinners, but she also seemed genuinely interested in me for the first time. I told her everything. About school. About David . . .”

He squeezed her knee. She didn’t have to say anything more. He knew his mother well enough to connect the dots and anger and disgust began to fill his gut.

She continued and the tears ceased, replaced by a mask of icy anger. “After a couple of weeks, she started spending less time with me and didn’t bother coming home most nights. Then, out of the blue, she announces she’s returning to Gregory in Athens. She asked me to go with her since the school term had ended. Braden, she’s
never
asked me to travel with her. Of course, I said yes.”

As Rose spoke, his rage toward their parents increased, but for her sake, he remained passive.

“When we arrived, things changed. She’d take me shopping, hand me her credit card, and then disappear for hours. Later, I overheard her telling Gregory she’d spent the day with me.”

“She used you for an alibi,” he guessed, his hands clenching into fists.

Rose nodded. “I decided to follow her one day after she’d dropped me off at a museum. She walked and I stayed a block behind her. She went in to an upscale apartment building. She had to sign-in before the guard allowed her to pass, but I could tell from his expression he knew her. When I came in, I checked the register to see who she was visiting. Then I told the guard the truth. I was visiting my friend. He told me the apartment number and I knocked on the door.”

Braden pulled her to him for a hug and she buried her face in his shoulder. This was who he was, a product of a woman who used her daughter for her own purposes. A father who sent checks on birthdays even though they could afford to buy anything they wanted . . . except their parents’ love and time.

Even if Lola stayed in town, he’d screw it up. Maybe not now, but eventually, he’d break her heart. She trusted him not to hurt her. And he would. Hell, he’d already behaved like his mother, placing his own selfish need to save
Acropolis
over Lola’s feelings. He was a lost cause and he couldn’t forget that for a second. Just look at what he’d done to his ex-wife.

“It was David,” he stated without a doubt in his mind.

His sister looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes and lost innocence.

“Yes. Mother is marrying the man I lost my virginity to.”