The Billionaire's Bride (Complete Collection) (15 page)

“It's what my father said,” he responded, rubbing his hard jawline with his thumb. “You let him get under your skin. He's good at that. Don't. He was wrong.”

“No, he was right about some things. I'm not part of this world. You and I aren’t compatible. There's attraction, yes, and I'm sure you could support me, but I want more than that. I want to
share
my life with someone...and every time we get close, it’s disaster.”

I thought he almost sneered at me. He hid his face as he paced the hallway, but I followed him. He suddenly turned around, stopping me, making me peer up at him. There weren't a lot of men who could make me feel tiny, but Lucas did.

“It sounds like nothing I do will change your mind.”

I grimaced. I shuffled my feet. Looking down, when I looked back up to check on him, he passed behind me as if to say ‘that's it’.

“No,” I said, although my answer was clear. “Nothing I can think of.”

“You're still not leaving here tonight.”

Then before I could react, he shoved me through the doorway to my right, and slammed the door behind me. Fumbling for the door in the dark, when I found it, all of my attempts wouldn't budge the knob.

In one quick move, he'd pushed me into a spare room and locked it from the outside.

I banged on it and screamed for Lucas to let me out.

“Not tonight,” he called past the door, sounding so sweet. I pounded away as I listened to his footsteps trailing down the hallway.

Was he leaving me?

Who did he think he was? My gut sank when I realized I knew the answer to that question. Lucas thought he was above a god. I should've known he’d do anything in his power to keep me.

Slumping back against the wall, I looked around at the spare bedroom. It was decorated with a tropical, yet modern theme, which could’ve easily been overdone, but it wasn’t.  There was a large beach bed with sheets and pillows immaculately placed.

And there was a window.

Once I spotted it, I laughed like a maniac. Lucas had forgotten to bar the window, which seemed unlike him, but locking me in the room had been a split second decision. I hurried over to it. It
seemed
wide enough for me to fit. It didn't matter. I would have to try it.

Just as I was about to lift it, Lucas appeared on the outside jingling a lock. He clamped it down on the window, waved to me, then merrily strolled away.

I laughed at the absurdity of it all, but then collapsed onto the bed.

There were worse places to be stuck in, but there were certainly easier places to escape from.

W
as
it wrong that I didn't feel bad about trapping Tia? Should there have been remorse? Perhaps a questioning of my morality? Tia didn't understand how much danger she was in. And she certainly didn't understand what I had up my sleeve, which required her to be away from me for a while.

The best gifts were, in my opinion, complete surprises, and that's what I intended to give her—a surprise that would knock her socks off. Hell, why not her panties, too? It was time to throw it all on the table. Doing so required me to be up all night, without her interrupting me.

My security team was under strict orders not to let Tia go. They would feed her, give her whatever she needed, but under no circumstances should she leave the premises.

After my secret night, haggard and delirious from no sleep, I arrived back home. I popped open the door a little. Keeping it ajar, I peered in to see Tia curled against the pillows. She looked serene. Exhausted, I wanted to cuddle up next to her, press my cock between her cheeks, and fall asleep to our warmth.

But there was no time for sleep.

One of her eyes popped open. She jumped back and almost fell off the bed.

“What are you lurkin’ around for?”

“I'm back,” I said, not before rubbing my eyes to try to focus.

Her hair tousled from sleep, she looked adorable but I didn't dare tell her that.

“Oh, now you're back? Thanks for keeping me
locked up
in this room for the night.”

“I'm sorry about that,” I said. I leaned against the door to not tip. To be honest, I didn't sleep well the night before, or the night before that, or....yeah, I couldn't remember when I’d gotten a decent night's sleep.

“You look terrible. Where have you been?”

I shook my head. She couldn't know that. Not yet. “Nowhere.”

“You're being really creepy, Lucas. What's going on?”

“What time is it?” I asked, at the same time, bringing out my cell phone. Six in the morning. Damn. No time left.

“You've got to get ready. We're leaving in twenty minutes.”

Tia grasped at the air like she was strangling me. I didn't blame her. In the end, I hoped that pussy would want to strangle my cock. There was nothing I could do about her frustrations at the moment.

Falling back, then thrusting herself up onto her feet, she grumbled and shoved past me.

“Let me get ready,” she grumbled.

“You don't even know where we're going,” I yelled at her back. She must've been heading up to my master bathroom to get ready.

“Are you going to tell me?” she yelled.

As she rounded the staircase, she glared back at me.
You got me there, beautiful.
“No.”

Shaking her head, she growled again and stomped off to the top floor. I sat at the bottom of the stairs and waited for her. This was going to be a long trip.

Once she was ready, we headed to my garage. Bright UV lights buzzed to life above us, illuminating my four cars. Usually, guys in my income range would have a fleet of vehicles at the ready. I had a few middle class cars, and one sports car that I liked to take whenever I needed to get somewhere fast.

It was hardly used, but I felt like now would be a great time to take it. I reached for the handle. I was about to pop it open when Tia darted between us and wagged her finger in my face.

“Oh, no, oh hell, no. You are
not
driving.”

“You want to drive?” The keys jingled in front of her face. She took a step back.

“Uhh, no. I'm not driving that thing. You're not, either.”

I hated when she was right. Only because she was right most of the time.

“Look at us, arguing like a married couple already.”

“I'm trusting you, Lucas...” she said under her breath, fists clenching. Tia would never hurt me, but she would run. Run away from me, like she had tried to before.

“Remember the last time you said that? I gave you the orgasm of your life.”

“Do whatever you need to do. I am having the complete
opposite
of an orgasm right now.”

“That serious?”

She tried to hide a smile but failed. “Lucas, aren't we late for whatever you're doing?”

“We are,” I said and headed off without another word or glance. In another minute, the garage door opened. I held the limo door open for Tia. She gathered herself, holding her sides and taking careful, smooth steps to the door.

“I'm trusting you,” she said again.

I was too slow to respond and she dropped inside. The upscale, private neighborhood passed us by and soon we were on the highway.

Tia recognized the route. “We're not going to the airport, are we?”

I kicked a leg out. I stretched and took up all of the leather seat. She leaned closer, getting that angry yet beautiful look that I couldn't take seriously.

“You're so pretty when you're angry, you know that?”

“Stop screwing around,” she said, but I saw an inkling of a smile. “I'm not ready to go anywhere. Look at me.”

“You look fine. We're going to be on a plane for hours.”

“Hours? How many hours?”

“You're not afraid of flying, are you?”

“I'm afraid of you and your plans. This had better be good...keeping me locked in a room, waking me up at an ungodly hour of the morning, taking me with no time to get ready--”

“It'll be worth it. Relax your pretty butt.”

She crossed her arms and huddled in the corner, far away from me. “This butt is not happy, mister. This is one angry butt. And have you seen this thing? You do not want to make this butt angry.”

I sprang toward her. I crooked my head while I flashed a smile, a smile that told her exactly what I was thinking about –
running my tongue over that delicious pussy, caressing and worshipping that beautiful ass, watching as it bounced to my merciless thrusting in that divine, tight pussy.

“
Keep talking about that butt of yours and we'll miss our flight. Or maybe you'd like to join my high mile club?”

Tia scoffed, but flinched. “I'm going to shut up now. I'm only feeding your confidence.”

My eyelids fluttered. Keeping my eyes open was a struggle that I was losing. I kicked back again and waited for us to arrive.

The next thing I knew, we were there as Tia slapped my thigh. I bolted awake to catch her laughing.

“What's funny?”

“Couldn't hang, could you?”

“How long was I out?”

“Only a few minutes.” We were parked in front of a hangar, housing the private flight I chartered to take us.

“Ah, shit, sorry, didn't meant to do that.”

“It's okay,” she said, then crawled her way over. Her plump, grab-able ass passed right by me.

Why couldn't we simply fuck in the limo like I'd mentioned earlier? Even dead tired, I was sure that my cock would work. It began to tingle. It was a sensation that said if I didn't cool my dirty thoughts, I would soon be greeting the pilots with a hard on.

We went inside the hangar to be greeted by the staff. As we went into our private chambers onboard the jet, Tia showed her disapproval with each step. I simply tried to keep my footing so I wouldn't fall.

The seats were all huge, double the size of a normal seat on a standard airline. In the back, there was a small lounge with a bar. But most of the jet served its function, getting from one place to another comfortably and fast.

We had two flight attendants to take care of us. Overkill, but Tia would appreciate it, even if she would complain about the cost and how it wasn't necessary.

“When are you going to tell me where we're going?” she whispered to me. She was too embarrassed to say it loudly.

“I'll tell you where we're going when we get there,” I yelled, my voice booming through the cabin.

She jumped from her seat and hit me with an elbow to my side. It actually kind of hurt.

“You've got some bony elbows. Why don't you keep those lethal weapons in your personal space?” I took her arm and placed it back on her lap.

She curled her lips and shook her head. “I don't have bony elbows.”

“I'm pretty sure they don't allow weapons like that aboard the flight. Maybe you should've stepped out of line and let me frisk you?”

“Frisk me? How attractive, Lucas. And once again, they're not bony.”

I pointed to the flight attendant who was getting ready to show us the safety precautions. “If you're so sure about your not-pointy elbows, how would you feel about jabbing her in the waist like you just did to me?”

“I swear to God, Lucas...if you don't shut up, my pointy elbows are going up your ass.”

That got me going. I started to laugh my ass off, interrupting the safety procedure. My laughter became worse once I tried to stifle it. After I was done wiping a tear over Tia's absurd statement, and how pissed she'd gotten over her elbows, exhaustion swept over me.

We listened to the safety precautions. Hearing them made me uneasy. It reminded me why we were there in the first place, because of Tia being in danger. My personal visit to Jayne had solved that problem, or so I hoped. If she attempted anything, my security detail that trailed her would alert me at once.

Tia leaned over her seat and her breasts pressed against my arm. Arousal shot through me, then came the comfort of having her warm, soft beauties against me. Could I sleep on them? Best not to ask her that now, she would go livid.

Keep hands to self, keep eyes straight ahead, and enjoy the flight.

“Actually, I agree with you. They are a little bony,” she whispered to me, like telling me a naughty secret. My cock bulged when she said that.

I smirked. A lazy smirk.

“You look like you could use a nap.”

“Uh, yeah. I could, but I need to stay awake for the flight.”

“Why? You're not flying.” She waved for the flight attendant to come over. The skinny blond in her white blouse and black dress approached at once.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Please get him a pillow. He needs to sleep.”

I waved her off, but my body cried out for that pillow, no matter how pathetic that sounded.

“I can't sleep. I need to see your face when we land.”

The flight attendant handed Tia the pillow when I didn't reach for it.

“Get up,” she said. I obeyed her and lifted my neck. Tia placed the pillow underneath it and I sank back into it.

“Now go to sleep. I'll wake you up to see how surprised I am.”

Nodding to her, I wasn't sure if I believed her, but the promise of sleep was too tempting to pass up. I slept most of the way there. Halfway during the flight, I woke again, only to sleep for the remainder. Tia was absorbed in a movie when I woke.

She seemed happy.

My plan seemed to be working so far. We were together. We were acting like a couple. Would she take the next step once we arrived?

I didn't know. But I was happy to see her enjoying herself, seemingly carefree. I did the same and slept until we arrived in Costa Rica.

L
ucas had the best surprises
.

Nearing the exit, I hugged Lucas. He was still waking up. Squeezing him tight, I looked up to see his eyes bulging. I started laughing and hurried my way down the landing steps to the tarmac, leaving him behind.

He caught up to me. Breathing heavily, he said, “You don't even know where you're going.”

“I don't even know where we
are
, but it looks gorgeous,” I screamed. I turned in a circle to get a panoramic view. It looked tropical. Heat lines wavered in the air over the runway. Another driver in a luxury sedan awaited our arrival.

“We're in Costa Rica.”

Costa Rica...unbelievable.

Just a day ago I was back home, my life an endless repetition of tasks that I completed for little money. Now, here I was in a tropical paradise with the man of my dreams.

Yeah, it was a little hard to remain mad at him when he went out of his way to do all of this. “I'm willing to overlook keeping me locked up in a room, since I imagine you were planning the whole night, right?”

“That's right.” He was unnaturally frazzled. I kind of liked it. He looked sexy with his hair messy. It reminded me of what he looked like after a satisfied orgasm. A girl could get real full of herself after giving a billionaire bachelor like Lucas Moore the orgasm of his life.

“Costa Rica,” I screamed when I realized something. I hopped up and down, clapped, and then snatched Lucas by the collar. I might've been a little too rough, and eased up.

“What's gotten into you?” he asked as he rolled up his sleeves. He put a heavy arm behind his neck, in turn, flexing his awesome biceps.

No time to ogle. Something had gotten into me. And that something was one of the top places on my bucket list.

“Sloth sanctuary,” I screamed, doing a dance as I pumped my fist in circles around him. I stopped, out of breath, at his feet.

Lucas, jaw dropped, stared at me. “Sloth...what? What are you talking about?”

I shook him. He flexed and I decided it was best not to shake the big strong man. “Sloths. Oh my God, this is where the sloth sanctuary is. We have to go see the sloths.”

I kept rambling. It couldn't be helped.

“All right. I take you all this way, and the first thing you say is you want to see some sloths? Unbelievable.”

I mimicked a sloth moving slow on some branches. Lucas's eyes went even wider. He looked around to make sure that I wouldn't be arrested for acting like a crazy person at an airport. I'd yelled sloth pretty loud.

“This wasn't on the itinerary, but seeing as you're about to
become
a sloth just to prove to me how wonderful they are, I think I can fit it on the list.”

I jumped again. I was seriously out of breath in this sweltering heat, but that didn't stop me. I was super energized with the thought that I would actually be able to visit the sanctuary. And maybe....just maybe...steal one and bring it home.

“They have sloths that they rescue. They bring them in and try to rehabilitate them. It's like sloth heaven.” I went on as we were taken from the airport to our next destination. I didn't even bother to ask this time.

Lucas kept looking out the window.

“Are you listening to me?”

“I am.”

“No, you're not. Here, have an elbow.”

Lucas laughed and caught my slight elbow jab. I placed my hands back between my knees. I kept them clasped, my legs wanting to jog in place. Lucas seemed pleased with himself. Too pleased.

When we arrived at where we were staying, I shot him a new look. A look of disapproval. “I thought you didn't do flashy things like this.”

As soon as we rolled past the gates through the lush tropical brush to the front of the house, a mansion like his one in California – but this one more open and all Spanish architecture mixed with tropical flare – I knew it must've cost a fortune.

“It's not mine. I'm renting it for the week.”

“Still, it's extravagant.”

“I can splurge on you, every once and a while. You'll let me do that, won't you?”

“Only if you promise to do double for someone more deserving.”

We parked in the cobbled driveway. The lush green mountains beyond, and the beach behind it, awaited us.

I hoped the driver wouldn't interrupt us as Lucas said with no restraint, “You deserve everything I can give.”

“Stop, please.” I turned away from him to the heart shaped gate which led to a private beach’s sandy entrance.

“I must leave you again.”

He clasped my hands in his. His warmth, spreading through me, did little to comfort me about this new revelation.

“Leaving me? Again?”

“Yes, I'm sorry.” Lucas pulled out his wallet. He slapped three hundred dollars into my open palms. “Use this for lunch.”

I thought he was going to say ‘use this to grab some clothes’. Because I wasn't dressed for much of anything, except for lounging around with some ice cream and some Netflix. There was such a wide, unexplored world calling to me, that I wanted to get dressed into something appropriate and explore right away.

After handing back the money, I said, “I don't need all this. What I need is some fresh clothes. I need a chance to settle in.”

“Right,” he said. He slid past me. As he did, his ass passed right by my eyes.

God, I wanted to grab it. I wanted to sink my fingers into that ass. I'd always loved how some guys could have the hottest asses, and I could never understand it. I was glad I'd found a man who fit this type.

I got out and stretched. A flowery, earthy scent permeated the driveway. Lucas waited for me to continue.

“I'm going then,” he said, when I didn't respond.

I reached for him to stop. That touch ignited all those old wild emotions.

“Wait, I need clothes. Are there clothes here for me? I didn't bring anything.”

“Right, you'll be taken care of. I'll have my assistant answer to you. Anything you need, you ask, and it goes on the card. Free of charge. Consider it my due for keeping you locked up in my guest room all night.”

That was fair.

“You're really leaving me again?”

His back to me, he told me as he walked away toward the house. “I'm afraid so. I have business to take care of. I assume you'll be fine by yourself.”

His smug tone drifted off. Bracing myself against the limo, I waited until he was out of sight for me to shout my disgust. It came out a jumbled mix of words.

Lucas didn't seem to care. He was gone.

How could he take me to Costa Rica, then drop me off with his assistant? This was supposed to be a trip that we would share together. It seemed Lucas had better things to do.

His assistant came striding out from the house as soon as he entered, like she was walking the runway to me. She had exotic features and a skinny, sensual body. She had pulled back black hair, a business jacket, and business pants.

Having him take me to a strange land and then abandoning me had left me in an insecure state of mind. This woman who introduced herself--Camilla--was drop dead gorgeous in a business suit.

Why was I acting so jealous about this girl? She drove me to the nearest boutique while I attempted to tone down my bitchy meter.

“How do you know Lucas?” she asked me, as we turned off a packed intersection to a straight road leading to the hotel and shopping center.

My eyes narrowed. How to explain? “We go a long way back,” I said plainly. “How long have you been working for him?”

How long have you been fucking him?

What had gotten into me? Was I suffering from some serious case of jet lag? I wanted to pull my insecurities in, but I kept worrying that I was losing him. Funny, I'd been trying to distance myself from him for months, now I was worried he was slipping away.

Wasn't that how it always was with Lucas?

Once again, I was in the Lucas Moore trap. It was exhausting...

“Please,” Camilla said, as she held open the door for me. I snapped back to reality.

“Thank you.”

Camilla brought me to a fancy resort. It was the type of place that Lucas would never bring me, but it did have a lot of fabulous clothes to pick from.

Clothes with no price tags.

“There's a...uhm...problem,” I told Camilla as she stood watch over me.

“Yes?” she asked with strict discipline.

Not just any problem. A major problem. These clothes weren't going to fit me. I wore plus sizes.

“None of these clothes are…” I paused. How could I explain this? There was only one way. “Going to fit me,” I finished painfully.

Camilla’s eyes almost sprang from her skull. “I'm sorry. My apologies, Ms. Daniels. Shall we go somewhere with better choices?”

Better choices
, I liked the way she put that. Camilla wasn't so bad after all.

“Yes, let's do that.”

Camilla drove me to a better store. This one was also in a hotel. Many of the luxury resorts in the area catered to their rich tourists by offering them luxury items, items that were way out of my price range. There was no way I could charge Lucas's credit card for all of the clothes I wanted.

I was like a sad puppy dog wandering around the store. My hands touched
everything
. All of the fabric was so smooth and fresh. All of the dresses would fit my shapely body in a way that would have Lucas crawling back to me, sorry that he ever left me alone on
our vacation.

“This is all too much.”

“Everything will be provided for.”

I draped the most comfortable and normal thing in the store back on the rack. “I can't. It's too much.”

Camilla strode over to a dress, the shining jewel that hung on the front mannequin. She turned it by the shoulder to face me.

“This is what you're getting.”

“Does Lucas train all of his workers to be just like him?”

“The boss rubs off on all of us.”
Just as long as he's not rubbing one off
with
you.

She pushed the dress at my chest. I took it, only because I had no choice. I had to wear something. Going to a different store didn't seem to be an option.

“He says it how it is.”

“Yes, he does,” Camilla said. She smiled as I placed the dress to my body and looked down, seeing it match my curves. “This will look so good on you. Lucas will rip the dress off and take you right at dinner.”

“How do you know what he's like?” I eyed her suspiciously.

“What do you mean? Does he do that often?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “No, I was only wondering.”

Camilla laughed. “I have not been involved. Lucas is very professional. Best boss I've ever had. It was only a joke.”

Phew. And there goes the heat to my cheeks, a freaking inferno now.

“I'm sorry. It was silly of me to assume that. I'm only being insecure. Which didn't really happen before I met Lucas.”

“You love him,” she said suddenly, placing her delicate hand on my forearm.

“What?”

I couldn't shake my head no, but it seemed to be what the situation called for. Love? We'd never said the words. He'd only said he loved my pussy before, which I gladly accepted, but it clearly wasn’t close to saying those binding words all by their lonesome.

Yes, I loved him. I was tired of fighting it.

“I love him. I do.” I’d never said it out loud before.

There was a twinkle of recognition in Camilla’s eyes. “First time saying it out loud?”

“Uh huh. And it’s weird. It’s really weird, but it’s good.”

“That weirdness isn’t going to go away until you say it to him.”

“I know.” But when would I get the chance to say it? Right after he dumped me on his assistant? No way.

“The guy drives me mad, though. He doesn’t tell me where we’re going, he takes me to another country, and then he hands me off to you.”

“He has big things planned. That’s all I can say.” She lured me out of the shop with her many shopping bags. “I picked up a few items that I thought would look pretty on you. I hope you don’t mind.”

“You think I’m going to mind? What’d you get me?” She handed over the bag and I rummaged through it. “I do feel kind of bad, though. This stuff is
way
too nice. I’ll get you back.”

“It’s paid for by the boss.” She grinned at me as we headed back to the car.

“What else does the boss have planned?”

“I can’t say, but trust me, you’ll like it.” She dodged my look, pulling an imaginary zipper across her lips then throwing away the key as we began our drive. We breezed through the rainforest back to the private estate to find Lucas lurking underneath the abode’s entrance.

“Thanks for the shopping trip.”

She nodded ahead to Lucas. "Go, your man is waiting. And don't tell him that I said anything about his plans."

"You hardly said anything.”

"I said enough."

I left with another thank you to Camilla. Lucas leaned back. He looked rugged with a sloppy slouch, like he might slide to the ground and take a quick nap.

I strode up to him, then wound my arms around him and sucked in his tantalizing scent. I was back home. Back with my man.

When I pulled away, he smiled, dragged down by tiredness.

"Lucas, you look like hell again. I'm not afraid to say it, either. What have you been up to?"

"I'm fine. How have you been?" he asked, then clasped my hand, bringing me past the Spanish arches and into the wide foyer of the mansion.

"You're not fine." I stopped, distracted by the tropical flair and the enormous windows that revealed the beachfront view. "Please, can you tell me what you've been doing?"

"You'll see, soon enough."

I sighed. "I like surprises, but this surprise might be going
too far.
I'm a nervous wreck."

"Relax," Lucas said. He sat on one of the bar stools and stretched out. After his groan, I wanted to hop on his lap and kiss him. He looked sexy when he was tired. Sexy and vulnerable.

I wanted him to take my hand. "Let's go to bed."

"Bed, already?" He stood up and pressed his warmth against me, his cock brushing against me, making butterflies flutter in my stomach.

"You're in no condition..." I started. When wasn't he? He was insatiable.