The Billionaire's Terms: Prison Or Passion (2 page)

The song finally ended and Alicia was about to thank him for the dance and walk away, not wanting to be one of those mooning females that didn’t get the hint. But he stopped her yet again. “Come have some champagne with me,” he said, taking her hand and guiding her outside onto the deserted balcony.

Alicia knew she shouldn’t be out here alone with this man. He made her think thoughts that were better left un-thought. His chiseled face and charming smile told her that he was definitely out of her league.

But he wouldn’t let her go and, to be honest with herself, she didn’t want to go. She took the glass of champagne he handed her and took a long sip.

 

“Thank you,” she said and walked to the edge of the balcony with him, looking out into the inky black sky.

 

“What are you doing here alone?”

 

The darkness and the champagne were making her brave. “Who says I’m alone?” she asked, looking up at him from beneath her lashes.

The amusement was there in his dark, mysterious eyes. “Because if you were here with another man, then he’s a fool and I’d be asking you why you were with him. But since you’re not with someone else, answer my original question.”

She disagreed, but was flattered that he thought a man would be silly to leave her alone. “Perhaps I enjoy being alone.”

 

“Nonsense. Why would you be trying to flee the party so early?”

 

“Because I’m tired?”

 

“You’re wide awake now,” he pointed out.

Alicia took another long swallow of her drink and looked up at him. He really was incredibly handsome and made her stomach flutter with his dark look that promised secrets that only he could give her. “I think that has more to do with the company than with my physical state.”

“I’m flattered,” he said and clinked her glass. you have a boyfriend?”

 

Alicia drank the rest of her glass nervously. “The next question is, why don’t

How could she admit to this handsome and incredibly sophisticated man that she had been too busy waitressing and working retail to pay for her sister’s college and her mother’s mortgage to have any life up until a few weeks ago? And then it occurred to her. She was twenty-six years old and was now free of some overwhelming burdens. Why couldn’t she just relax and have a little fun? Especially with this man? What harm could a little flirtation have? She knew it was the alcohol talking but she didn’t care.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief and she faced him fully, not wanting to appear skittish anymore. “Why don’t you have a girlfriend?” she countered back, coming out of her normally shy state to challenge the man. “You’re handsome and probably smart, although I don’t have any evidence of that at this point. Surely you could charm some lady to keep you company.”
“Who says I’m here alone?”

Alicia smiled and threw his answer right back at him. “Because if you were here with another woman, then she’s a fool and I’d be asking you why you were with her.”

 

Adam threw back his head and laughed. “Touché,” he replied. “But men don’t want clingy women.”

“And women like clingy men? That’s very sexist of you, sir.” She looked startled. “I’m sorry, I’ve been standing here talking to you and dancing with you but I have no idea what your name is. I’m Alicia,” she said, smiling at the realization that she’d been with this man for almost forty-five minutes and didn’t even know his name.

“The name’s Adam, and in men, it is called being protective, not clingy. And I never denied being a sexist,” he replied with an unrepentant grin.

 

She smothered a laugh. “Well, Adam, that’s very disappointing. I would have thought you were a modern man with more current views.”

 

“Sorry to disappoint you,” he said and took another glass of champagne from a passing waiter, handing it to her.

Alicia smiled her thanks and looked up at him, definitely relaxed now. In fact, she felt almost as if she were floating on a cloud. She wasn’t sure if it was the champagne or the gorgeous man in front of her, blatantly flirting with her but she didn’t really care. She felt better than she had in a long time and she didn’t want that feeling to end.

“I doubt you’d ever be able to disappoint a woman,” she said, then realized what she’d said. Straightening awkwardly, she was grateful that the darkness hid the fierce blush staining her cheeks. “I mean….um…well,” she stuttered, completely flustered.

Adam just smiled wickedly and leaned forward so he was whispering in her ear. “I’ve had no complaints so far,” he said quietly, his lips brushing her earlobe, causing a shiver to race down her body and her breath to stop in her throat.

“Yes, well,” she said breathily, all thoughts leaving her head completely at his touch. She cleared her throat and took another long sip of the bubbly liquid, staring at the button in the middle of his shirt front, hoping he didn’t feel the tremor that shook her whole body. “I’ll take your word for it,” she whispered and took another long swallow of wine.

“What? No challenge back?” Adam said, moving closer, so close she had to move her glass to her side or her hand would be touching his shirt.

He took her glass and put it behind her on the cement banister. “Adam,” she whispered, “this probably isn’t the best place to do this,” she said, but her eyes looked up to his, hoping he would kiss her so she would know what it felt like. His lips seemed firm and commanding, as if he could will her to kiss him back.

“Adam!” a shrill voice said from the balcony doorway interrupting whatever was about to happen. Alicia jumped back, uncomprehending of what sort of freakish animal had interrupted their darkness and aborted kiss.

Adam’s mouth twisted into a grim smile and she felt his hands tighten slightly on her waist. “Caught,” he whispered before he released her and turned to greet whoever had found their private spot. “Good evening, Martha. How are you tonight?” he asked, putting an arm around Alicia and greeting the woman with a smile.

They talked with the woman and a few others who wandered out to the balcony for several minutes. Finally, Adam excused them and pulled Alicia back into the ballroom, bringing her closer into his arms and looking down at her as he started dancing again.

“I’m guessing you didn’t want to talk to them?” Alicia said, her body melting into his strong, powerful one.

“No,” Adam replied, his eyes heavy lidded as he took in her features one by one. “I don’t want to talk.” His voice was deep and husky, leaving no miscommunication as to what he wanted.

“Ah,” was all she could say, licking her lips as a dangerous thrill shot through her with his look. She simply smiled up into his sexy eyes, thrilled that he wanted to be with her instead of some other, more glamorous or sophisticated woman. The look he gave her made her feel powerful and sexy, but very feminine, and his hand moving along her spine sent shivers throughout her body she couldn’t hide from his knowing touch.

“Come with me tonight,” he said.

Alicia’s smile widened, feeling very feminine with the knowledge that he wanted her. It was such a novel experience, she wanted to savor it. She also knew she couldn’t do anything about it. “No, I don’t believe I’m the one-night-stand kind of woman,” she said, but again, she was secretly thrilled that he would offer.

“Who says it has to be a one night stand?” he asked, twirling her and keeping her slightly off balance so she had to lean into him to stay on her feet.

Alicia laughed throatily, wondering how she could feel so secure in his arms while at the same time feel so nervous about what he was proposing. “Adam, don’t kid yourself. Although I’m flattered, I’m definitely not your type.”

He smiled charmingly as he pulled her closer into a spin on the dance floor. “What’s my type?”

 

“Hmmm….models, actresses, social women who know how to play the game. I don’t fit into any of those categories, unfortunately.”

 

“Why unfortunately?”

“Because I’m thinking you would be a wonderful lover,” she sighed, smiling up at him, unsure where she gathered the courage to flirt like this. She’d always been incredibly reserved around men. Tonight was different, her mind accepting the crazy feelings racing through her. Whatever the reason, she shook her head when he smiled.

“But you’re determined to not find out, aren’t you?” he said.

“That’s correct,” she said and slid her hand up around his shoulders, her fingers delicately touching his soft, black hair. “But I thank you for making me feel beautiful tonight. You definitely are just the boost my confidence needed.”

Alicia didn’t realize it, but he had casually danced them over to another balcony, this one on the side that was shrouded in darkness. As soon as they were close, Adam took her gently by the hand and led her out into the cool night.

By the time they had reached the doors, Alicia found herself wrapped in an embrace that she wasn’t entirely sure wasn’t of her own doing. But Wow! His lips were firm and definitely commanded all of her attention. She felt the cement of the building against her back as he leaned her against the wall, his hands exploring her waist, moving upwards to rest just under her breast. The night air, the noise from the people inside and the music were all gone. Only this man, his hands and his mouth were present in her mind along with intense, terrifyingly passionate feelings this man evoked within her existed. Nothing else.

Within moments, Alicia’s shock wore off and she was kissing him back with just as much fervor. Her hands moved from his shoulders to his chest, slipping underneath the fine wool of his tuxedo to touch the muscles underneath.

He pulled her away from the building and held her in his arms, one hand coming up to hold her head while the other pulled her body closer to his. Alicia could no longer think as her body’s feelings took over. Each touch of his mouth as it slanted over hers was like instant heat shooting right to her core, building up and then shooting back to her mouth to take as much as she was giving.

The heat inside her was becoming painful and she wanted more. The dizzy feeling she had was no longer because of the champagne but only because of his hands and his mouth which left hers to travel along her jaw and move slowly to her ear. His tongue and teeth teased the lobe, touching and nibbling along the shell of her ear, then traveling down to find the sensitive place on her neck she never knew existed.

It was a slow, sultry kiss that never seemed to end. He heard the voices close by and pulled away, taking a large step back just as another couple strolled out into their private area. This time, the other couple didn’t speak to them, barely noticed them as they moved slowly to the opposite end of the balcony, lost in a private joke between the two of them. Neither of them noticed Alicia breathing heavily, desperately trying to get hold of her emotions and her body as Adam stared at her, one hand sliding into his pocket which only made him look like some sort of movie star.

But there was no one on the background to shout “Cut” or to ease the burning inside her that only intensified as Adam pulled her hand into his and guided her out of their hiding place and back into the noisy ballroom. He didn’t stop, but he simply waved his hand cordially as they passed several people obviously determined to speak with him.

Adam pulled her along, not roughly but with determination, straight into a waiting limousine. As soon as they were settled inside and he barked a command, “home,” to the driver, he shut the glass partition and took her back into his arms.

Alicia only shivered in fear for a moment before giving in to the sinful pleasure his hands and his mouth could give her. And she felt more free to explore him as well now that they weren’t about to be discovered by so many other people.

After only a short drive, the driver stopped in an underground parking lot and Adam opened the door, solicitously helped her out of the car and quickly guided her into the waiting elevator. He punched a code and the elevator smoothly started moving.

He turned back to face her, his dark eyes searching her blue ones intently. “Are you sure you want this?” he asked, his hands loosely holding her waist as he watched the expressions on her face, making her understand exactly what was going to happen.

Alicia smiled gently, her hand reaching up to touch his handsome face, letting her fingers feel the power in his jaw and the softness in his determined mouth. A half hour ago, she would have said absolutely not and run from the building. But after being in his arms and experiencing the magic of his burning, heated kiss, she knew that this was the only place she wanted to be, the only place that was necessary at this point in time. Her mind wasn’t sure if it was the smartest place to be but her body didn’t care.

“Yes,” Alicia said, her hands sliding up the black wool again, her fingers diving into his hair to pull his head back down to hers. As long as he was kissing her, her misgivings about what was going to happen evaporated. She wanted this like nothing else she’d ever wanted in her life. She briefly thought of the past ten years, of doing everything that was good and right and expected of her. And then Adam’s hand slid higher along her waist, his hand touching her breast through the thin material of her dress and her whole body arched, her head thrown back and her breath catching in her throat.

“You’re so beautiful,” Adam said, his voice husky as he watched the emotions fly across her face, his hand briefly touching her pebbled nipple, then moving quickly away as if teasing the sensitive peaks. His body was already rock hard, had been since he’d taken her into his arms several hours ago but now there was an urgency about his need. Her mouth was open and her breathing rapid and as his hand explored, small, sexy little moans escaped from her, turning him on even more.

Adam had been with women in the past but never had he picked up a woman from a party and left with her. His moral code demanded that he know a woman before he slept with her. He was no wallflower and had been with women in the past. Many women in fact. And he tried to put this one, tiny woman with her sexy red dress into perspective. But then her arms slid up to his hair and her fingers twined behind his neck and he didn’t want to think anymore. If she was willing, he wasn’t going to reject it.