“In,” she said, making a decision that might damn them all. Grabbing his shirt, she rose to her tiptoes and kissed him just as he’d asked.
An arm wrapped around her waist as Julian pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She smiled against his lips, excitement bubbling up inside her. She always did the right thing. Put others first. Tried to help where she could.
Tonight was for her. One wild mistake she’d treasure for the rest of her life.
She’d never been less in control.
And it’s freeing.
When his hands ran over her body, the voices whispering in the back of her mind that she’d never be good enough quieted. When his lips ran down her neck the worries that she was a pale copy of her sister disappeared.
Julian had never found her wanting.
And given the liquid heat in his gaze, she must be the sexiest woman in the world.
“Do it again,” he said, staring at her.
“What?” she asked.
“Smile.” He shook his head. “You’ve never looked at me that way before.”
I was never allowed to.
Lillian had a plan. And she and Julian had a shot at something real.
She smiled wide, letting her joy show.
A growl rumbled through his throat before he claimed another kiss that sent heat pooling low in her abdomen.
With his hands on her hips, he walked them backward toward the ornate bed.
“This is your favorite room, huh? Seems a little girly for you.”
“What, you think I don’t live my life searching for the perfect floral pattern?”
She laughed. “My mistake.”
“It was the first room Judy and Pete ever put a guest in and that guest was me,” he told her.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t sentimental?” she teased.
“I’m not.” Those burning eyes met hers. “Usually.”
Yet underneath his cultivated business persona lay a man who would drive hours out of his way to look at account numbers he could have solved over the phone. One who gave up Michelin-starred restaurants for fast food just because it made her happy. A CEO with a moral streak a mile wide and a sense of honor that she found devastatingly attractive, especially coming from a home where such things were considered weaknesses.
But they didn’t make Julian weak.
His hands gripped the hem of her shirt, inching it higher. Helping him out, she tugged it over her head and let it drop to the floor.
His gaze zeroed in on her newly exposed chest, and she rolled her eyes. Honorable or not, he reacted like every other man in the presence of breasts.
“See something you like?” she teased.
“Every time you step into a room.”
Her breath caught at the sincerity in his voice.
And the need in his expression.
He stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. The heat of his hand against her naked skin forced a gasp from her lips.
But she wanted more.
Raising her hands, she deftly undid the buttons of his shirt and slipped her hands beneath the material, sliding it off his shoulders.
The soft lamplight shadowed his face even as it played off the defined muscles of his chest. Giving in to temptation, she traced those contours with careful fingers, grinning when his abdomen contracted beneath her touch.
All mine. At least for tonight.
And how she wanted to enjoy every second of it. Letting her hands glide lower, she undid the button of his jeans before sliding the zipper down.
“Not so shy anymore, are you?” he breathed against her ear.
She paused for a moment before leaning back and raising her gaze to his. “I don’t want to be. Not with you.”
And it was true. She’d never had a problem staying out of the limelight. Her comfort zone rarely included another person. But Julian made her want to shed those inhibitions. She didn’t want to be a mouse tonight.
She wanted to be a woman who took what she wanted.
“Good,” he replied. “I’ve been waiting to hear you say that.”
He kissed her, and everything else melted away. Nothing was as important as this moment with him. Not the disaster that was her family. Not the nerves that had kept her clinging to the sidelines her entire life. Just this once, she wanted to have something that was just for her
Julian was like a lightning strike to her life. There was no stopping the changes he had inspired.
He’s making me think of the world beyond my family. Of a life beyond my father.
What a sacrilegious thought for an Abbott.
“You’re thinking too hard again,” he whispered against her lips.
Yes, I am.
“Help me stop,” she said and crawled backward into the bed.
…
My absolute pleasure.
Julian stared down at the woman before him and could barely keep his thoughts straight. Need and anticipation pulsed through him, mixed with something more, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He wasn’t a man to turn down a good romp beneath the sheets, but everything with Lillian was different.
Staring down at her, he didn’t know what to make of the tightening in his chest, this curious mix of lust and tenderness. Nothing about tonight was temporary.
But the idea didn’t panic him. A deep sense of satisfaction filled him. The pieces of his life were falling into place in a way he’d never anticipated.
All because of one far-fetched idea to grow my empire.
A wife was supposed to be the price of his success, not his reward for it.
Marrying her isn’t going to be a hardship.
The belief was further underscored when she shimmied out of her jeans and tossed them at his feet.
I’m a lucky man.
And tonight, he was going to prove she was lucky, too.
This was all about her. There was no room for anything else.
He moved onto the bed, watching her eyes light as he slid over her.
“Mm,” she said, making room for him between her legs as she draped her arms around his shoulders. “Much better.”
“Agreed.” Her skin was silky smooth beneath his fingertips as he leaned down to kiss her.
She twisted beneath him, arching herself to bring their bodies closer. A growl rumbled through his chest as she ground herself against the coarse material of his jeans. He wanted to go slow and take his time savoring her, but the lust pounding through his body had other ideas. Had he ever needed anyone with the blind desire he had for her?
He broke the kiss, working his way down her neck when she tossed back her head to give him better access. Everything about her was beautiful, from her wide smile to the generous breasts he couldn’t wait to unveil.
No time like the present.
With a grin, he rolled them to their sides to unclasp her bra. She slipped it off her body without any hesitation, smiling up at him, and something throbbed in his chest.
I wanted her to look me in the eye.
And now her gaze was clear and piercing as it met his.
“You’re incredible,” he said, the words stark and honest.
Her telltale blush rushed to her cheeks, and he chuckled at the familiar color. Would he ever get bored of seeing it?
Or of causing it.
His grin widened.
“You’re not too shabby yourself,” she replied.
“I’m just getting started.” He flicked a thumb over one hardened nipple and enjoyed her swift inhalation.
Sliding down her body, he turned his attention to the breasts he’d been dying to see.
Reality is so much better than fantasy.
He couldn’t deny having more than a few illicit thoughts about his fiancée over the last few weeks, but now that she was in his arms, she blew every single one of them away.
The things we’ll do together.
He grinned. They had a lifetime to explore all the ways they could play together.
“Just wait, sweetheart. I’ll make you scream my name before the night is over.”
“You absolutely will not. There are children staying on this floor.”
“Fine, I’ll make you say my name at an appropriate volume.” He nipped at her earlobe. “But next time, all bets are off.”
Her laughter was bright and happy, warming something inside him that had nothing to do with lust.
At least, not only lust.
Hooking his fingers around her black panties, he slowly pulled them down her legs.
The laughter stopped when he ran a finger over her slit, tracing her sensitive folds.
Something possessive and hungry rose up within him as he brought his mouth to her. He wanted to make her lose control. To leave some invisible mark on her that proclaimed her as his. This wasn’t just a first night with a new lover. It was far more important than that.
And that was coming from a man who’d lived a happily isolated life for most of his years.
That ends now.
Because Lillian was his future, and before the sun came up, he’d make sure she knew it, too.
…
Her mind was awash with pleasure.
Throwing out a hand, she clutched at the duvet as Julian proved just how skilled he really was.
Is there anything this man can’t do?
His tongue tapped across her clit, and she bit her lip to stifle a moan. No matter what Julian said, she had no desire to scandalize the couple who had taken them in for the night. Especially not when they were as close to in-laws as she was going to get.
But he was doing everything in his power to make it difficult for her.
Closing her eyes, she gave herself up to the pleasure building inside her. She was so close, rocking against his mouth helplessly. As if he knew just how far to push her, he licked her one last time before drawing back.
“No,” she groaned.
He chuckled. “Give me a minute, and I’ll make it feel even better.”
Rolling off the bed, he stripped off his jeans and boxers, giving her an eyeful that had her licking her lips. Nothing about the man was lacking, that was for sure. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on his rock-hard cock.
He fished his wallet out of their pile of clothes and pulled a condom from it.
“Look at that planning,” she said.
“I confess to being cautiously optimistic when I brought you up here.”
“So, the rain did your work for you, hmm?”
He crawled back onto the bed with an unrepentant grin. “I didn’t anticipate getting stuck here overnight, but I’m not complaining.”
“Me neither,” she said, reaching for him.
He settled between her thighs, holding himself up on his elbows as he looked down at her.
“God, you’re stunning,” he told her.
She smiled at the compliment, marveling at how comfortable she was in his arms. In the past, she’d always been a little off balance with her partners, like she was worried about making a misstep. But with Julian, she let go enough to enjoy the pleasure he offered.
And she was nearly licking her lips at what came next.
“Back at you,” she said, cupping his jaw with one hand to kiss him. As she did, she reached down to stroke him as she guided his cock into position.
“I want you,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Haven’t you figured out yet I’m all yours?”
He thrust into her before she could reply. Gasping, she wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders as he started to move.
She forgot about being quiet. Forgot about Judy and Pete down the hall and the reality waiting for them back in the city.
Nothing mattered but this feeling.
Angling her pelvis, she arched beneath him to match his rhythm. Pleasure started to build again, and she threw back her head, riding the waves of sensation he inspired. She opened her mouth to speak, but there were no words. All her concentration was focused on the man moving above her.
Each thrust built her climax. She was so close. Just a little more.
Again and again they rocked together, moving instinctively. Cupping his face, she kissed him, trying to communicate without words. The intimacy of the moment was almost as wonderful as the intense orgasm building inside her. He picked up the pace, driving into her with new energy.
“Julian,” she gasped.
“Let go,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll catch you.”
It was all the encouragement she needed. With another thrust, she broke apart in his arms.
Her back arched with the strength of her climax. Pleasure swamped her, bursting through every cell in her body.
Julian thrust into her at a frenzied pace before stiffening. With a satisfied groan, he collapsed on top of her, panting against her shoulder.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed the aftermath, her body still twitching. She was utterly exhausted and utterly sated.
“Well, I think we can assume we’re sexually compatible,” he said by her side.
A smile tugged at her lips. “I don’t know. I might need more convincing.”
He chuckled against her skin. “I knew you were a brilliant woman.”
Turning, she snuggled into his arms. Maybe she’d just made a huge mistake, but for the first time in her life, everything seemed absolutely perfect.
Chapter Fourteen
“Look who decided to show up to work.”
Julian glanced up from his desk to see Jason and Ryan enter his office.
“What are you doing here?” he asked Ryan.
His friend shrugged. “Took a long lunch. We haven’t seen you in a while.”
He grinned. “I’ve been busy.”
The men each took a chair around his desk while he saved the document he was working on before giving them his full attention.
“Yeah, you have,” Jason said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Ryan rolled his eyes. “How old are you?”
“All men are teen boys at heart.”
Julian shook his head. He sure as hell had felt like a teenager these past weeks, desperate for his next roll in the hay. Since he and Lillian returned from the B&B, something was different in their relationship. More intense. More real.
More permanent.
It was like the marriage had gone from an ethereal concept to a real eventuality.
Because we’re committed to each other now.
Every morning when he left her, he couldn’t wait to return. It wasn’t a sentiment he’d ever dealt with before. These days, they spent more nights together than they did apart. He’d waited for the suffocation to come, but it never had. Instead, he slept more soundly than he ever had before.
“You’ve been playing hooky a lot recently,” Ryan said.
He grinned. “I only took Monday off.”
“To do what?” Jason asked.
“Stay in bed.”
Jason laughed while Ryan shook his head. “I wonder what HR would have to say about your use of working hours,” he said.
“Considering he could fire and replace the whole department if he wanted to, I think they’re cool with it,” Jason teased.
Ryan crossed his arms and shook his head. “What did I do to deserve you two?”
“You’re just that lucky,” Jason replied.
“Did you need me on Monday?” he asked.
Ryan shrugged. “Not really. I’ve been working with Jason as outside counsel on the merger, and the numbers still aren’t adding up.”
He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “What’s your gut telling you?”
Ryan sighed. “When you see the sorts of patterns we’re finding in the balance sheets…”
“It points to cooking the books,” Jason said, his humor falling away. “There’s something going on here, Julian. We don’t know wha
t it is exactly yet, but the Abbotts are definitely skating around the truth.”
He ran a hand over his jaw. “Hell.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself with your future wife, but given what we’re finding…”
“We’re wondering if she’s a distraction,” Jason finished bluntly.
Something in his chest twisted. “You think John is parading a beautiful woman in front of me in hopes that I don’t pay as much attention to the merger as I should.”
His two friends looked at each other before nodding.
Pushing from his chair, he paced over to the windows and looked down at the bustling metropolis.
Is Lillian lying to me?
Or was she an unwitting pawn?
She said she had a secret. Something that was keeping her away from me.
He remembered the pain in her expression the night at the B&B. That hadn’t been the expression of a jaded seductress playing a role.
It’d been one of a woman torn about something.
Conflicting loyalties, perhaps?
Where does that leave me?
“If John is hiding something, Lillian might be the bait to lead you into the trap,” Jason said from behind him, his voice serious.
“So, the question is,” Ryan said, taking over, “what’s this marriage worth to you?”
He knew what they were asking. It wouldn’t be easy to undo the merger, but they hadn’t passed the point of no return. That would only come after the wedding. He could pull out and walk away.
But I’d lose Lillian.
He leaned a forearm against the glass. This merger was supposed to catapult his business to the next level. Would he still want to walk down the aisle if that wasn’t possible?
I already have a bigger fortune than I can spend in five lifetimes.
Was the potential of making it larger worth losing the woman he was set to marry?
Family or wealth. Which one do I choose?
He turned back to his friends. “I want proof,” he said. “Cold, hard, undeniable proof that John is playing me.”
“And in the meantime?” Ryan asked.
He exhaled slowly. “In the meantime, I’m getting married soon. I hope you two have tuxes that fit.”
Jason sighed. “I know she’s hot, but you should back away for the time being. What if she—”
Betraying the Billionaire Page 11
