Seducing the Billionaire's Brother

by Marquita Valentine

  “Stop ordering me around, you jerk.”

  “I’m trying to make you feel better,” he all but shouted at her.

  “Yeah, well you suck at it right now,” she said, her voice rising to match his.

  “I wouldn’t suck if you’d let me do what I want.”

  “Let you do what you want?” She gaped at him. “Do you actually listen to the words that come out of your mouth?”

  “No, I wait for the instant replay or for you school me.”

  Faith burst out laughing. A second later he joined her.

  He exhaled. “I’m sorry for being an overbearing ass. It’s the Montgomery in me.”

  “You’re forgiven.” She wiped away the few tears that had fallen on her cheeks. “See, no tears at all for you to worry about.”

  He touched her shoulder, skimming his fingers along her arm until he could lace his fingers with hers. “Let me help. Please.”

  “You can, by taking me somewhere really, really good for lunch.”

  “Absolutely.”

  She tugged her hand out of his grip and moved to the front of the library. He followed Faith to her desk, trying to keep his gaze off her pert ass, as she leaned over to gather her things.

  “I might even allow you to take me out of the country today.” She straightened, linking her arm through his “I took the rest of the afternoon off.”

  “How did you know I wanted to take you to my favorite place for Mexican?” He walked with her down to security, taking the stairs because she preferred it.

  “Because you’ve been talking about Cabo for weeks now.” She scanned her ID badge and waved at a couple of the security guards.

  Connor didn’t miss the sly looks they got, but he was certain Faith was oblivious to it all. Or at least he hoped to God she didn’t notice.

  “Would you consider a weekend stay?” he asked as they walked outside to where his car waited by the curb. The October day felt brisk, crisp—basically the perfect weather to go someplace warmer.

  “Depends on why we’d be staying—charity function, party, or simply to spend time together.”

  He opened the passenger door for her, waiting until she got inside to answer. “It’ll only be us... and staff, of course.”

  “I’ll need to pack and grab my passport.”

  “No, you won’t.” He pulled her passport from his pants pocket. “Stopped by your house on the way over. Grabbed your bikini, cosmetics bag, and that other bag you keep packed for travel emergencies.”

  She grabbed her passport from him, sliding it into her purse. “You’re the reason I have travel emergencies that aren’t real emergencies.”

  “I can’t help it if I needed my best friend to go to a party on a glacier with me as my date.”

  “I was one of twenty women with only six other men on the guest list. You didn’t need me as a date.”

  He shrugged, grasping the door of the Tesla. “Who else would have kept those nineteen women away from me?”

  She made a face. “I’m sure you would have found a way.”

  He tilted his head from side to side. “Maybe, but you’re way more fun.” Then he shut the door.

  Glancing up, he saw his brother looking down at him. Instead of his perpetual glare, he had a thoughtful look on his face.

  Honestly, Connor would have rather have had the former because the latter meant that Drew was plotting something.

  5

  FAITH + CONNOR + DREW

  FOUR YEARS LATER

  SUBJECT: PROMOTION

  Hey You!

  Who has a Master’s in Library Science and got a promotion? This girl. Best of all, it involves moving to LONDON!!!!!

  SQUEE.

  Can you hear me all the way in Ibiza?

  Now we can have a proper tea together in the afternoon.

  Call me when you get this!

  ~Faith

  SUBJECT: YOU SUCK

  Hey, Shit for Brains.

  There isn’t a corporate library in London. This is a dick move, bro. You know I’m not allowed in the UK for the next two years.

  Take back the promotion.

  -Connor

  SUBJECT: GROW UP

  Hello, International Criminal.

  Ms. Holt will be in charge of putting one together for the London office and wouldn’t you know it, her tenure will be for the next two years.

  If you hadn’t hacked into MI6 to impress your latest fuck buddy, you wouldn’t be in this mess.

  Furthermore, I didn’t authorize the promotion. Dear old dad was the one to reward Faith for her years of service—I don’t think he meant just at MI, either—and I thought the idea had merit.

  . -Drew

  SUBJECT: PARTY FOR TWO

  You are fucking amazing, Faith.

  To celebrate, I’m flying in tomorrow night to take you anywhere you want.

  Get your passport ready.

  -Connor

  SUBJECT: APARTMENT HUNTING

  Would you mind if we went to London? I need to find an apartment... oh wait, a flat to rent.

  I’m so flipping excited!

  CHEERS!

  ~Faith

  SUBJECT: FORWARD: Re: APARTMENT HUNTING

  Dickwad,

  What in the hell am I supposed to say to this?

  -Connor

  SUBJECT: RE: RE: APARTMENT HUNTING

  For starters: the truth.

  -Drew

  SUBJECT: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

  Good Afternoon, Mr. Montgomery.

  Thank you so much for the opportunity to create a library at the London office, but I am going to have to decline the pay raise and promotion.

  Unfortunately, my family obligations make this move impossible at this time. If you wish to fire me or for me to resign, I understand and will do so without malice.

  Best,

  Faith Holt

  SUBJECT: FORWARD: RE: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

  I stand corrected. You should have lied to Faith. You’re holding her back and you know it.

  -Drew

  SUBJECT: RE: RE: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

  I haven’t told her yet. Just found out her dad was arrested for running a slot machine scheme under the guise of the proceeds going to charity.

  But... I guess you have a point. I’ll fix this.

  -Connor

  SUBJECT: DON’T BOTHER

  We’re helping Ms. Holt with the legal bills as well as legal counsel to represent her dad. If you want to help Faith, you’ll make up an excuse as to why you’ll be out of the country for the next year or so.

  I’m speaking to you as a brother right now: Give Faith space to become her own person. She’s not your pet crow.

  -Drew

  6

  FAITH

  PRESENT DAY (SIX MONTH later)

  Faith logged into Skype and plopped down on the sofa with a hot cup of tea laced with honey, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon to wait for Connor to call.

  She hadn’t talked to him in days. Worse, she hadn’t seen him in months because he’d been too busy starting up animal street rescues in India, Mexico, and on the West Coast. Yes, she was immensely proud of his work and the videos he had produced to be shared on social media always made her cry happy tears, but selfishly, she wanted him here. She needed him by her side.

  To make things even worse, she was dealing with daily calls from her dad. He missed her mom. He missed her. He wanted to come live with her in Charlotte.

  Not. Happening. Ever.

  The thing was, she loved her dad. He’d been the one to teach her how to swim, how to change a car tire, and how to whistle so loudly that her momma would cover her ears and playfully shout at the two of them to stop before dogs started showing up at their front door. But now, he didn’t want to teach her anything. It was like she only existed when he needed something, and his whining was too much for her to bear on her own.

  The only person in the world who could make it better was Connor. Yet she hated
burdening him with her problems. She wanted to share good news. Happy news. Heck, she’d settle for crazy gossipy news about her new co-worker who was seriously obsessed with Connor’s Instagram account.

  Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. “I need a signature, ma’am,” the voice on the other side called out in a booming voice.

  Brow creasing, she set the cup of tea down and went to answer it, muttering, “I don’t remember ordering anything.” Except it could be a package from her mom. She had mentioned sending her a quilt that her great-great-aunt Clementine had sewn.

  Faith opened the door, her mouth dropping as soon as she saw who was on the other side.

  Connor stood there, sun-kissed skin and coffee-brown hair, so close that she could touch him. His hazel eyes seemed to glow with happiness as she stared up at him in utter confusion.

  “You’re not happy to see me?”

  She blinked at the sight of him in his dark jeans and a grey thermal t-shirt that she knew cost more than her rent. The sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, showing off his forearms. “Of course, I am.”

  Full, pouty lips tipped up in a smile that revealed perfectly white teeth, and she grew uncomfortably warm. “Then where’s my hug?”

  A vision of them greeting each other this way after work each day, in a not too distant future threatened to invade her reality. She gave herself an internal shake and threw herself in his arms. He caught her, his muscular arms powerful as they went around her. “This is so much better than a video call.”

  He picked her up, walking inside her apartment and shutting the door behind him with a soft kick. “I couldn’t stay away from you any longer.”

  “I’m glad.” Her words were slightly muffled by the material of his shirt. She breathed in his scent—the woodsy cologne she’d given him a few years back for Christmas, mint, and undeniably Connor.

  He set her down and slightly away from him. “Hope you don’t mind, but I ordered take-out from your favorite sushi place.”

  “But you don’t like sushi.”

  “Which is why I ordered burgers from my favorite place.” He slung his arm around her shoulders, keeping her by him as they moved to the living room. “Aw, look at your set up. Bet your tea is sweetened with honey and spiced up with cayenne pepper and cinnamon.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Are you really trying to impress me with your knowledge of how I take my tea—because I’ve literally drunk it that way for the past six years.”

  “Yeah, but it shows I’ve paid attention for the past six years.”

  She shoved him away, ducking from under his arm. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “Guilty.” He plopped down on her sofa, spreading his arms along the back and making it seem a lot smaller than she originally thought. “This is new.”

  “You complained that my old one was too little and too girlie.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Remember?”

  “I remember saying that the cushions were so worn out that my ass hit the floor every time I sat down. Also, it was too old and too girlie.” He grinned. “This is much better.”

  “So glad you approve.” She sighed, then gathered her laptop, shutting it and moving it out of the way so she could join in. “When will dinner be delivered?”

  “Fifteen minutes or so.”

  Pulling up her legs, she rested her elbows on her knees. “You look like you’ve been up to more than just ordering dinner.”

  He rubbed the side of his jaw. “I might have stopped by your dad’s new place and had a talk with him.”

  She sat up straight, cold replacing the warmth he’d brought with him. “You didn’t.”

  “I’m not sorry. He needs to man up and do right by you and your mom.” Connor’s lips thinned. “Be angry at me all you want, but I’d do it again.”

  “That’s not...” She rubbed the heel of her hand against her forehead. “Look, I don’t want you to have any part of this. It’s bad enough he told his gambling buddies that he’s good friends with the Montgomerys, but now that you’ve shown up at his place, they’re going think he’s legit, and God knows what he’ll bet on next.”

  “He doesn’t want to go back to jail.”

  She glared at Connor. “That’s what he said three times before. He can’t get caught again. I can’t have your family help me again. It’s humiliating.”

  “As humiliating as that time they sent you to Colorado?” he asked

  Her cheeks heated. She’d found him laying bare-assed naked by the pool in thirty-degree weather. He’d nearly frozen to death because he’d been alone while everyone else was taking advantage of his hospitality.

  “You could have died,” she pointed out

  “It wasn’t that cold.”

  “Cold enough that I was freezing the whole time,” she countered.

  “The cement was heated. Didn’t you notice the lack of snow or ice?”

  No, she hadn’t because she’d been too furious and too intent on avoiding ogling him, despite the fact that he’d made it supremely difficult for her to do so. “I was slightly distracted at the time.”

  He smirked. “I’m glad you approved.”

  “Not funny. Your friends suck.” She tipped her chin up. “Also, don’t change the subject. We’re not talking about you; we’re talking about me.”

  “So, it’s only okay if I need help, but not you.”

  She gaped at him. “None of the help I needed was because I was about to die of exposure or overdose on alcohol or drugs.”

  He gave her a look. “You sound like my family. All judgmental and full of themselves.”

  “If you mean that I drop everything I’m doing to fly, on seconds notice, to help you, then yes, I am so guilty of judging your stupid ass.” She gave him a look right back.

  “I didn’t ask for your help.”

  “You didn’t refuse it either.”

  His jaw worked. “Did I have a choice?”

  “Yes, you had a choice. You always have a choice. Meanwhile, I go and do your family’s bidding because I don’t want you to get hurt. I care about you, Connor.”

  He leaned in, coming so dangerously close to her that Faith’s pulse leaped. “Have you considered I feel the same way about you?”

  “Do you think I would have accepted any of your over-the-top, super expensive, ridiculous gifts over the years if I didn’t think you cared about me?”

  “I think you haven’t answered my question,” he countered.

  She licked her lips.

  His gaze dropped to her mouth.

  “Connor, I—”

  He slammed his mouth against hers, one hand cupping the back of her head like she was made of something precious. Pleasure exploded, rendering her dizzy and hot and breathless as he ravaged her lips.

  “Open,” he whispered, his tongue tracing her bottom lip. “Open for me, Faith.”

  Slowly, she parted her lips, wanting more yet knowing this was a really, really bad idea. Nothing good could come from this, for her anyway. She knew Connor too well, knew that he thought monogamy was for the birds—literally.

  His tongue rubbed against hers, rough silk that made her moan, made her wet, and her nipples hard points. Her back hit something soft, and she vaguely realized that he’d lowered her to the cushions. His hands were everywhere, caressing her body as he whispered wicked, filthy things in her ear.

  “I won’t fuck you the first time, blue eyes. I’ll make love to you, the way you deserve.” His fingers slipped inside the waistband of her leggings, the tips brushing against her skin.

  “I’ll eat you out first, make you ready for me.”

  His hand went lower until he could cup her fully over the lace panties she wore. She gasped at the contact, then whimpered.

  “Connor,” she said on a moan.

  “Oh God, moan just like that again for me, sweetheart.”

  Sanity blazed through her. She couldn’t be one of his lovers. Not a single one had lasted longer than it took for a full moon to take
shape in the night sky.

  She tore her mouth away. “We need to stop.”

  Connor hovered above her, a perfect specimen formed by the goddess of love, Aphrodite. His eyes closed, dark lashes lowering. When they opened again, he looked like a man who was fighting demons.

  Was she his demon?

  He sat up, holding out his hand to her. She took it, sitting up as her free hand went to her hair. The twin braids were looser now.

  “I want to apologize for that,” he said roughly. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. Shouldn’t have touched you... fuck, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t even worry about it.” She forced a smile and pushed down the feeling that everything was finally going to change for the worse between them. “Sometimes, passion gets the best of us. And, so... yeah, don’t... it’s completely forgotten.”

  “I think I’d better go.” He stood, his jeans not hiding the massive erection that pressed against the front.

  Her eyes widened, then collided with his gaze. She flushed and jumped to her feet. “Are you sure? You ordered dinner.”

  He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he moved to the front door, pausing in front of it, one hand on the handle. “No, I’m not sure, but I don’t trust myself around you right now.”

  “What’s changed?”

  He laughed bitterly. “Nothing’s changed. We’re... exactly the same.”

  “That’s good?” She wrapped her arms around herself, his assurance anything but helpful.

  “Let’s get together on Saturday. I’ll take you out on the boat.”

  “Actually, I can’t. I have plans.” With her dad, but she didn’t want Connor to interfere. “But—”

  “Forget I asked.” He opened the door. “I’ve already paid for dinner, so freeze the burgers or have them for lunch tomorrow at work.”

  “I could save them for you? We can have lunch together at work, or I can meet you somewhere.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not supposed to fraternize with employees, and you’re an employee.”

  “That’s never stopped you before,” she pointed out. Why did it feel like she was losing him?

  “Maybe it’s time I follow the rules. Maybe Drew was right, and I’m in your way when I’m here.”