The Billionaire's Bargain (17 page)
Read The Billionaire's Bargain Online
Authors: Sam Crescent
“Thank you,
never forget it,” she said, and then she kissed him.
Her lips brushed his, gentle at
first, but she then built into a passionate kiss that took his breath away. His
hold tightened around her. The tips of her breasts pressed against his shirt
like rock-hard pebbles. He’d tasted them and knew their sweetness on his
tongue.
He moaned in between her kisses.
back, feeling her lips part,
then
plunged his tongue
inside. She moaned, her own fingers tugging at the strands of hair at the back
of his neck. Their moans echoed round the kitchen. The fire and hunger urged
them both on.
her back. He wanted to turn the kiss into so much more but restrained himself.
His seduction needed to be perfect. Losing control now would damage any chance
he had of repairing their relationship.
Tess Williams was messing with his
head. And God help him, his heart. She was the first woman to ever initiate a
kiss with him. All of his life he’d been the one in charge, always demanding
rather than being given. His other conquests had taken great care to act and
play hard to get. Tess was different. She was an innocent. It meant so much to
have her take the first step. He stepped back from her loving the hot flush
adorning her skin. He kissed her on the head in order to end the fire blazing
between them. She was the first woman to leave him fevered by the passion she
provoked.
His plan of getting her to fall in
love with him was on track.
He cut off his own thoughts.
consider his own seduction.
If he was to get Tess to fall in
love with him then he risked falling in love with her.
Chapter Fourteen
The following afternoon Tess was
still buzzing with excitement.
private jet was about to lad on the helipad on the grounds of his villa. She
looked out of her small window to see a picturesque mansion staring back at
her. It was everything she’d imagined
“How rich are you?” she asked. The
smile remained on her face. The beauty before her was worth the wait. She
couldn’t wait to go explore the beautiful country.
“What makes you think I’m
particularly rich?” She turned towards him. His eyes and voice were teasing
her. Ever since he’d announced their honeymoon he’d been like a different man.
“You own a private jet.
A huge mansion in
Your country house, and not mention all the other property you must own. And
the fact you run your own business. It kind of makes a girl a little impressed.
Impressed but also intimidated.”
She smiled at him. He
chuckled as he pocketed his cell phone. For most of the journey he’d been
working while she stared out of the window. It was her first trip abroad. His
wealth scared her. He was used to so much luxury. She must look unsophisticated
to a man of his riches.
“All right, I am very, very rich,”
he said.
“Okay.”
“You’re not going to ask anything
else?” he asked.
Tess laughed. “I’m sure you’ll tell
me more when you want me to know.”
She looked out of the window as the
helicopter began to lower.
never let go. Tess turned towards the window. She didn’t see any of the view.
Her mind was on the man holding her hand. He’d been so attentive.
Late last night when she’d struggled
to sleep and had gone in search of something to do he’d been working in his
office as she passed. He’d come out to see her.
Tess drifted to last night as the
pilot and
“Tess? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I can’t sleep. All right, I’m excited about tomorrow. I’ve
always wanted to go to
I’m acting all immature and childish, aren’t I?” She pulled the robe tighter
around herself.
“Not at all.
I should have kept it
to myself. Come on. Grace tells me a hot chocolate and
conversation
are
what an excited mind needs.” He took her hand leading her through to
the kitchen.
“Do you know your way around a kitchen?” she asked when he helped her
into a seat.
“Yes, I’m not completely useless. I make a great hot chocolate. Do you
like marshmallows?”
She nodded watching as he grabbed a pan and some milk out of the fridge.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, Grace taught me how to make the best hot chocolate. I’m following
her recipe, and she demands proper chocolate with milk, cream, honey, and a
dash of rum.” He came back to the stove with his ingredients.
Two mugs were filled with milk then poured into a pan with two whole
bars of chocolate. “Do you wish to squirt?” He offered her the honey.
She gave a generous squirt as he added a dash of rum. “Grace loves this
stuff.”
Tess giggled licking at the honey on her finger. He put the pan on the
heat and stirred. She watched with her head in her hand. The chocolate
permeated the room. “It smells good.”
“Wait until you taste.” When the chocolate had melted he poured the
mixture back into mugs and dropped in some marshmallows. “Here it is.” He
handed her a mug then walked ‘round to take a seat next to her.
She took a sip and sighed.
Heaven.
“What do you think?”
“Jus what the doctor ordered.”
He laughed. “You’re an easy woman to please.”
Tess took another sip. “Why are you up late?”
“Working.
All I seem to do is
work.”
“And play hard. At least the tabloids like to say you do.”
“I know.” Silence descended between them. Tess didn’t feel
uncomfortable. She liked him talking, and she wanted to know more about the man
she’d married.
“How much is true?” she asked.
“What?” He glanced her way.
“The stories the press run, how much is true?”
“No one has ever asked me that before.”
She waited for him to speak.
“Some of it is true. I’ve had plenty of women in my bed, but it’s not
how they portray it.”
“How do you mean?”
“The women I’ve dated have wanted me for something.
My
reputation, my money.
They get something out of it.”
“While you get the pleasure of their bodies?” she asked.
He frowned. “Yes, that’s about it.”
Tess took another sip of the cooling liquid. “It sounds like a very
lonely life.”
“It was the life I led.”
“Do you ever want love?
A family?
The stuff you
read about in books?”
spent so much of my life in the office I want to have someone to give it to
when I’m done.
Love?
I don’t know. It has been such a
foreign concept to me. I figured I could live without it.”
“What about your family?”
“I’d rather not go into it.”
“Okay.”
“What about you, Tess? Do you want love and
all of the
romance thing?” he asked.
She smiled. “Yes.” Tess debated on telling him everything she wanted.
She’d held so much back of herself that she didn’t want to keep anything else
inside. “I’ve spent most of my life alone. I’d love to have someone to love and
for them to love me back. Children would be wonderful. Daughters and sons would
be amazing. I always pictured myself having a big family. It’s amazing how our
life pans out.”
She finished off her mug of hot chocolate. “That was delicious.”
“You’re not tired,” he said, taking the cup from her.
“Not a bit.”
“Come on, let’s go and watch a movie.”
room, and they’d sat together watching a movie.
Tess came out of her thoughts as the
jet settled. She gazed at the man beside her. He was the same man she married,
but there was something different about him.
****
remembering last night. If it had been any other woman who asked him about his
wealth he’d have pegged them down as a gold-digger. Tess was different. Every
time his wealth was mentioned she looked more nervous around him. He knew she
was uncomfortable with his riches and her lack thereof.
When he’d sat down with her father
and saw a glimpse of the real Tess he knew family meant more to her than money.
His conversation with her the night before had confirmed any doubts. She wanted
people in her life to love. Tess had been without
love
all of her life. Erik, her father, didn’t like his daughter.
be so relieved to have someone in his company who never thought about money.
Her conversation always surrounded life, love, and beauty. Money meant very
little to his wife.
Tess was as refreshing as the
Italian sun.
Before long they were on the ground
and safely making their way to the huge villa. He saw Tess looking at everything.
There was too much for her to see in one quick glance. He looked forward to
exploring every part of this country with her. She curled into his side as they
walked the short distance from the garden into the house.
Normally,
his arm around Tess’s back then continued up with a sense of pride. Each time
she came to him for comfort was a big achievement to him.
You’re not thinking about seduction.
You love her,
Admit it. You want more from her than revenge on a dead man.
Once again he cut off his thoughts
the moment they entered the house.
They were greeted by his wonderful
plump housekeeper, Sofia.
hugged
He saw
arms around his wife.
back and encouraged the warmth in
arms.
written in Tess’s eyes. He noticed she gravitated towards older people. Tess
looked so happy to be with
It made him wonder how much she craved a mother. By the way she kept accepting
affection from Grace and Sofia, Duncan knew there was more to her feelings
about her mother than met the eye.
“You’re such a beautiful woman, and
you’ve got meat on your bones. My faith in mankind has been restored,”
Tess’s cheeks and kissing her lips.
“Thank you.” Tess blushed. He caught
her hand,
then
pulled her closer giving her his own
kiss.
blush turning a deeper shade of red.
“She’s exquisite,
has lovely hips, fit to give you many strong babies. I’m only disappointed I
didn’t get an invite to the wedding.”