Temptation (Billionaire Venture Capitalist #4): A Second Chance Billionaire Romance

by Ainsley St Claire

  Looking at the clock, I see it’s late. I eat some dinner and then head out for a run, putting myself through a punishing workout of almost five miles at a sprint and then lifting weights to work through the stress and pressures of my day.

  Finally, I collapse onto my bed and think of her.

  I can’t wait to see her, to taste her, to feel her, and to hear her call my name as she comes.

  I’m not usually a clock watcher, but for some reason today I am. She was the centerpiece of my dreams last night and fills my mind today, which isn’t typical for me by a long shot.

  To distract me from the time that seems to be moving slower than normal, I head into the tasting room at several points to see if she’s arrived. The disappointment fills me with dread every time I see she hasn’t.

  “There he is” comes the syrupy voice of a young woman I’ve met a few times. She’s in her early thirties, if I had to guess, and is quite sweet, but she doesn’t hold my interests in the least. I can’t even remember her name. Meeting so many people in the business has its drawbacks when people think I remember meeting them. I try, and sometimes I’m good at it, but not today.

  “Che piacere vederti!”

  She stands and hugs me, kissing me on both cheeks. “Please let me introduce you to my friends. This is Hillary and Regina.” Both girls are similar to her in age and grinning from ear to ear.

  “Benvenuti to Bellissima Valle.”

  The one I think is Regina says, “Thank you so much for making this wine. It’s super yummy.” She bats her eyelashes but has lost my interest completely.

  Yummy? What adult says a fine wine is yummy? Someone who doesn’t know fine wine, that’s who.

  We chat for a short time, and I try to explain the notes in the wine and how to spot them, but they really aren’t interested.

  As I’m excusing myself, the woman whose name I can’t remember reaches for me. “Oh, uh, um, the girls are headed back into San Francisco tonight. I was thinking about staying at the bed-and-breakfast up the street and was wondering if you’d care to join me for dinner tonight.”

  “You’re extremely kind. Unfortunately, I already have plans this evening with my girlfriend.” Okay, she isn’t technically my girlfriend, but I’m hoping it softens the blow a little bit.

  She nods, and I take her hand and kiss it. “There’s a lucky man waiting for you, bella mia.”

  I’m pulled to another table of local women, one of the threesome drawling, “Hey, handsome.”

  “Jeannine. What brings you to this part of the valley?” She works for one of the major local distributors and runs the operations. I don’t believe she necessarily knows a lot about wine, but she’s been by with friends before and does the rounds of all the tasting rooms.

  “You, of course,” she flirts.

  “Well, I do have the best wines in this part of the valley.” Her distributor buys up a lot of the grapes in the area and makes thousands of bottles that are sold all over the country and world. They’re less an operation of fine art, which is what I consider Bellissima Valle, and more of a ‘mix it up and send it out the minute it’s ready’ profit center.

  “Only second to our wine.”

  “But of course. You’re having the red flight, I assume?”

  “It’s quite good, actually. Very European.” She winks at me.

  I lean in and say quietly, “I hope you enjoy it. I’ll ask Sophia to top off your glasses. Enjoy your afternoon.”

  “Feel free to stay. We don’t have to talk wine if you’d like to relax and take a load off.”

  “You’re very kind, but Sophia would kill me if I did that.” I wave as I walk away.

  I give Sophia the signal to top of their glass at no charge, and she nods and heads over with several bottles.

  It’s late in the day when I finally see her, and this time it’s not my imagination. Her laugh is like music, her smile reaching her perfect eyes. She must have snuck in while I was sharing some of my enthusiasm for my process with a couple who are visiting the area and is talking to Sophia.

  Walking over, I put my arm around her as a sign of possession. She hugs me back and kisses my cheek.

  “Sorry I’m later than I expected. I spent some time with my mom.”

  “How did it go?”

  “Okay, I suppose. She’ll be in the hospital for a while. It looks like she hasn’t been taking her meds for over a month, which is really hard on her body chemistry. They’re having a hard time regulating her mood swings.”

  “I’m sorry about that, but selfishly I hope that means we’ll get to see more of you.”

  “That’s always a possibility.”

  “Would you like to take your things up to my apartment?”

  “I wasn’t sure I’d be staying, so I didn’t bring much.”

  “You can stay as long as you’d like.” I run my hand up her arm, causing goose bumps to rise on her skin.

  “Would you like a glass of wine?” Sophia offers.

  “I’d love one.” She sits and enjoys her wine while Sophia and I talk a bit of business. We’re both concerned about the missing barrels, but we don’t want to make a big deal of it until we have the chance to do a full inventory.

  “Go take Greer to dinner. She looks hungry,” Sophia tells me.

  I kiss my sister on the cheek and head for the door holding Greer’s hand.

  In the restaurant, I choose to sit next to her and continue holding her hand. My heart’s racing and my palms are sweating; I’m giddy like a young schoolboy. Good grief!

  We order a simple dinner and enjoy just being together. Something is definitely bothering her, and I hope I can get her to share what it is. “Tell me about what you did today.”

  “Today shouldn’t have been this hard. I don’t want to burden you with the mess that is my mother.”

  “Please, you can tell me. Has she always been sick?”

  “Yes, long before I was born. I think my father loved her energy when she was manic, but as the years progressed, it got worse. When she’s manic, she can be fun and exciting with so much energy, but when she’s depressive, she threatens to kill herself and those around her. Her episodes can come and go quickly or they can stay for weeks. It’s probably why I’m the only child of my parents’ union, though I do have six half-siblings. My father liked to marry them young and marry often.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “He likes them in their twenties. Then when they reach about my age—early thirties, usually—and they’ve had a few kids, he moves on to the next twentysomething. What about your parents?”

  “Well, not nearly as exciting. My parents met when they were very young. My father was ten, and my mother was seven. They were partnered by the town matchmaker, and they always knew they would marry. They waited until my mother’s sixteenth birthday. My father is the seventh-generation winemaker in the Tuscan valley, and they went on to have fifteen kids who are all winemakers, growing grapes and making wine all over the world. The US has been the most challenging market to break into, but it’s quickly becoming the crown jewel—besides Italy and France, of course.”

  “That’s just remarkable. Fifteen kids would mean you had a loud and rowdy family. As an only child, when my father left us, I felt guilty because without me, there was no one to take care of my mother. I’ve always envied people with big families.”

  “It was crazy. Constant chaos. I think that’s why I love living here. I have my small apartment, and it‘s quiet. When I started Bellissima, it was the first time I had my own room. Even at university, I had a roommate.”

  “Really? Wow. Are you close in particular to any of your siblings?”

  “Certainly Sophia. But she has a husband and a life outside of the vineyard.”

  “How often do you go home?”

  “Funny you should ask. We tend to all go home about four times a year, I’ll be going next month. Sometimes we’ll meet when someone has the crush going on and all help out, but that’s gru
eling work and my parents can’t really do that anymore. My brother Giovanni’s currently the chief financial officer, and my oldest sister Chiara runs the vineyard these days.”

  “I can only imagine. What happens when you go home? Super-secret winemaking meetings?” She laughs the most melodious sound, and my heart beats faster.

  “No. We’ll talk wine, of course, but it’s really just an excuse for my parents to insist on seeing us all together.”

  “That actually sounds fun,” she says almost wistfully.

  “You should come with me.” I don’t know why I just said that. I hope it doesn’t scare her off, but I’d really love to have her meet my family. They’d enjoy her passion for wine and her intelligence. Plus it’s a chance to show her where I grew up.

  “What? No.”

  “No, really. My mother wants me to bring someone home. She’s big into symmetry and wants the balance at her table.” Good grief, why am I trying so hard?

  “So I’d only be there to make sure you had an even number during a meal?”

  “Well, no. Certainly, I’d like to show you where I grew up and have you meet most of my family. I have a few brothers who drive me crazy, but they’d like you. I also think they’d love your ideas on public relations for the US market. It might even be worth trying them worldwide.” Now I really am trying too hard.

  “I don’t know how to market wines. I just know what I like.”

  I need to face facts—I haven’t liked anyone like this in a long time. “You’re certainly sexy when you talk about wine.”

  She looks at me through her long beautiful eyelashes and her mouth curls. “Why, Mr. Giordano, are you flirting with me again?”

  Being honest with her is my best bet if I want her to stay with me tonight. “I hope so.”

  “Well, you did promise me multiple orgasms—six, to be exact.”

  “I know I can accomplish that and more.”

  Her hand wanders to the bulge in my jeans, and she grins like the cat who caught a canary. “I guess we should go, then.”

  The short ride home is filled with electricity and tension, and it seems to take forever. I want her to drive faster, but these roads are steep and winding and, given the area, can often have drunk drivers at all times of the day.

  We enter the apartment and it’s awkward for a moment. I usually don’t have guests here and don’t know how to act with one. “Do you want a drink?”

  She stares at me intently. “No.”

  Stepping in, I close the distance between us. Her breathing is ragged and fast as I kiss her softly on the lips, then trail mine down the slope of her neck. Lifting her dress, I break away only long enough to pull it over her head.

  Licking my lips, I stare into her eyes and pull the soft silk of her bra aside, then dip my head to wrap my mouth around her taut nipple. I feast on her like I’m starved, sucking her nipple in deep. She cries out in response, but it’s not from pain.

  “You taste so damn good, my love.” She moans as she arches her back, pushing her breast into my mouth.

  Oh hell yes.

  I move a hand to her other breast, mercilessly twisting and pulling her pebbled tip with my thumb and forefinger. I groan over the tip of her breast, stretching the nipple out with my teeth as I slightly pull back, giving her a sensation I know is shooting straight to her core. I trail my heated tongue across her chest to pay tribute to her other breast, and just before I wrap my mouth around her, I give it a quick nip.

  My cock strains against the confines of my jeans, throbbing and hot with my own need. I leave her breast and trail wet kisses up her neck, then turn her away from me so she can feel my throbbing cock pressed firmly into her back. I start twisting and thrusting my fingers inside her silk-lined pussy, curving them to rub her sweet spot.

  “Oh God, Andreas!” she cries out with another traitorous howl. She pants wildly, bucking her hips against the palm of my hand. When I add a third finger, she breathes out a rough whisper. “Yes, Andreas. Please… don’t stop.”

  “Oh, baby, I’ve got so much pleasure to give you.” I thrust my fingers in a steady rhythm, plunging in and out of her wet folds. “Feel good, love? You like me rubbing against those tight walls of your pussy? I can feel your muscles quivering against my fingers.” I lick and nip at the erotic place behind her ear as I breathe in her heady fragrance. I refrain from kissing her, wanting to hear my name from her lips as she comes for me for the first time.

  I press my thumb firmly against her bundle of nerves and begin massaging it in small circles. Her legs shake uncontrollably against my thigh. “Come for me, sweet princess. Ride my fingers, work your hips and enjoy your pleasure.”

  Her pussy tightens and spasms around my fingers, and I growl as my dick throbs with need. Her labored breathing comes out in quick puffs between her lips. She coats my fingers with her luxurious juices, creating erotic wet sounds that have me almost spilling my load in my pants.

  The moment she murmurs, “Don’t stop,” blood rushes to my cock.

  “Mmm,” she moans a little louder, pushing her ass back against my bulge.

  “I’ve missed you. Can you tell?” I ask, my voice deep and gruff. Sliding my fingers in and out of her channel, I feel her delicate body shiver as I lightly caress from above her nipples to their hard peaks. “You’re so damn beautiful. You want more?”

  She moans again in agreement, turning her head toward me, searching for my lips. My cock begins throbbing with anticipation.

  She seems to be emerging from her orgasmic haze when she looks at me and says, “I think it’s your turn.” Her standing in front of me naked makes my cock even harder. Her mouth is perfect as she drops to her knees, unbuttoning my pants so she can see the bulge in my underwear. “It’s so big.” She licks her lips and my cock throbs with anticipation.

  Not wanting to come too quickly, I attempt to stop her. “Wa—"

  “Shh, I need this. Please don’t stop me,” she murmurs, her fingers steadily pulling down my underwear and exposing the tip of my penis. Holding back the elastic band of my underwear with one hand, she tenderly removes my swollen cock from its confines using the other. She wraps her hand around my length, and I let out a low moan as my body shudders. There’s a drop of precum on the tip, and she immediately snakes her tongue out to lap it up.

  “Holy fuck, baby,” I groan, making her grin. Using her tongue, she passes over the soft tip again, gentle and slow. Seductively, she peers up into my eyes one last time, giving me the option to stop her. Need swirls around me, and I don’t utter a single word as I watch her enjoy feasting on me. All I can seem to do is pant heavily, hoping she won’t stop now that she’s started.

  She tugs on either side of my underwear, bringing it to mid-thigh before she stops, freezing in her tracks. At the base of my cock, my balls look painfully engorged. She immediately engulfs my entire length with her wet, warm mouth, the tip of my cock touching the back of her throat, and it feels incredible. I gasp several times, trying to catch my breath as I thread my fingers roughly through her hair. “Oh shit, cuore mio.”

  She puts everything she has into giving me pleasure, careful not to be too rough near the base of my cock as she wraps her hand around my shaft, stroking it gracefully up and down, her mouth following the rhythm her fist has set. I’m getting close. Her palm is soaked from her saliva, and as she begins to carefully knead and rub me, she slides my rock-hard erection between her lips, over her tongue, and to the back of her throat. She takes in a deep breath through her nose and lets out a long, low moan at the same time she squeezes my balls in a firm but tender grip.

  Holy shit! My whole body tenses and I practically pull myself into a full crunch as I let out a feral howl. My hands shoot to the back of her head, threading through her hair to control her rhythm as she takes me deeper and deeper with each bob. I hold her head in place and pump my hips once… twice…. On the third thrust of my cock, I detonate as I continue to moan her name, shooting spurt after spurt of hot cum do
wn her throat.

  She eagerly laps up every drop, then continues bathing my still semi-hard cock with her mouth, making sure to get the little bit that lingers at the very tip.

  After watching her worship my dick and then smile after swallowing my release, I’m in complete and utter awe of this woman—as if I weren’t already.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Greer

  I slept over all night again. I haven’t spent the night with a man since Mark. Andy feels right though. He spoons in behind me, and we fit well.

  I tend to struggle to fall asleep, and then I struggle to stay asleep. It’s insomnia in its truest form, and it’s my curse. But tonight is different for some reason. I fall asleep and only wake when I hear people working outside in the vineyard.

  I stretch and glance at the clock, noting it isn’t even 6:00 a.m. yet. Who goes to work this early?

  I roll over and see Andy lying there. His hair is tousled, and I want so much to run my fingers through it. I love the little tuft of hair he has in the middle of his chiseled chest, playing with it as I lean in and suck his nipples. He moves a bit, but his cock is what really stirs. I want it again this morning.

  Taking a condom from the bedside table, I roll it on with my mouth while I massage his balls. I’d swear he was bigger this morning than he was last night.

  “Good morning, cuore mio.”

  He rolls me over and licks at my pussy, and I can’t help but push farther into his mouth. As he’s lapping up my juices, I pant, “How do you want me?”

  “Roll over onto your hands and knees.”

  I quickly do as I’m told, needing him inside me. I would do anything he wants, all he has to do is ask.

  He growls as he holds onto my hips, then slowly guides himself past my opening. The thickness of his cock stretches my core as he pushes himself in inch by slow inch from behind. My muscles exquisitely expand to accommodate the full length of his thickness as he fills me. We simultaneously moan in ecstasy as he pulls back out of me to start again.