His Sweet Torment: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance

by Michelle Love

  “And I bet …baguette?” She pointed downwards, wiggling her eyebrows, and Piper cried with laughter.

  “I’m not saying. But yes,” she added with a wicked chuckle. “He’s very blessed in that way. In every way. God, Em, am I crazy?”

  Emeli pulled a face. “No way. I know you won’t let it affect your work. You’re not like that. And you’re both adults. You get yours.”

  “You are such a bad influence for a boss.” Piper shook her head in mock-sadness. “So bad.”

  Emeli grinned. “Yes, I am …senior executive associate Le Jeune.”

  Piper was confused. “Huh?”

  “I was going to wait until we got back to New Orleans, but I can’t keep it in any longer. Pipes, you’ve been my rock for the past year. You’ve gone above and beyond. You’re nobody’s assistant, anyone can see that …and I’m taking a step-back from the business.”

  Piper was shocked. “You are?”

  Emeli nodded, smiling. “I’m having a baby, Pipes.”

  “Oh my god!” Piper flung her arms around her friend, utterly delighted. “I can’t believe it …congratulations, honey. I’m so happy for you.”

  Emeli looked touched. “Thank you, bebè. Tiens, you’ll make me cry.” She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief as Piper giggled. “Anyway, as I was saying, I’ll be taking a step back, and obviously I can’t expect a mere assistant to look after the business. So, Ms. Piper Le Jeune …you are as of now my official second-in-command and Tautou’s Executive Associate something-something. We’ll work on the exact title later.”

  Piper was overwhelmed. “Emeli …thank you so much. You’re the best.”

  “Ah, pshww.” But Emeli hugged her friend. “Now, I do hope that you’ll celebrate with your Italian stud later. In the meantime, we’d better get some work done.”

  Piper was still flying high by time for the first break of the day. She organized the refreshments and cued up the next slides, aware that Dalio’s eyes were following her around the room. She caught his eye and grinned, but tried to stare—if she did, it would be obvious to everyone in the room that she wanted him badly. As she looked away, she caught Carter Wentworth looking at her, a small, satisfied grin playing around his mouth. That smile meant one thing— ‘I know what happened last night.’

  She glared at him briefly before remembering that it was her job to look after these people. Still, Wentworth was an a-hole. She knew Dalio wouldn’t have told him about last night, so she assumed he must have called for Dalio and found his room empty. God, what a creeper.

  She made herself scarce just as the delegates were filing in for the next lecture. Scooting down a hallway, she went to use the bathroom. As she was washing her hands, she looked up into the mirror. Her dark skin was flushed with pink and her deep black eyes alive with happiness. God, one night with Dalio Corri was enough to make a girl feel like a goddess. She shook her head. Don’t get hung up on him; it’s just a fling. She closed her eyes and remembered last night—his lips trailing across her skin, his smile, and his cock driving her towards unbelievable ecstasy. She shivered with pleasure remembering it. As she left the bathroom, she squeaked as two hands slid around her waist and Dalio pulled her back to him. She turned in his arms, and he bent his head to kiss her.

  She chuckled when he released her. “You’re missing the lecture.”

  “I’m missing your lips,” he murmured, kissing her again and pulling her deeper into the shadows. His hands were under the skirt of her dress, then, and Piper’s arms wound around his neck as if they had a will of their own. She felt him tug her panties away from her and then he was inside her. He fucked her against the wall, his focus entirely on her as they moved silently together. “God, Dalio,” she whispered into his ear as his cock reamed her into submission, his free hand stroking her slit. She muffled the cry of release against his shoulder and felt him cum inside her.

  Afterward, they tidied themselves, grinning at each other, their little tryst an intimate secret between them. Dalio touched her cheek. “Darling one, I would love to show you my Italy, if you would like to and if you can get some time off.”

  Piper was surprised—she was sure that their fling would be over after the conference, but now, as he said the words, she knew she couldn’t say goodbye to him. “I would love that.”

  “Listen,” he said, lowering his voice, “At dinner, I have to talk to Carter. He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m dissolving our partnership.”

  Piper was surprised. “Really?”

  “It’s been a long time coming, believe me.” Dalio’s face was grim. Piper stroked his cheek.

  “I did wonder how a man like you could have anything to do with a creep like that.”

  Dalio held her hand to his cheek, then kissed her palm. “Believe it or not, when I met him, he was completely different. He had the drive and ambition to make my ideas work, and he had the networking skills. Me, I’m not so good with large gatherings of people.”

  Piper smiled. “I get that about you. You prefer one-on-one.”

  He nodded. “I do. Especially when the other one is you.” He bent his head and kissed her again. “Would you have a late supper with me? There’s a little tavern down in town that makes the most delicious food.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  He tightened his arms around her. “Thank you. Mio Dio, Piper Le Jeune, I never expected to come here and meet a goddess.”

  She pulled a face, which made him laugh. “I know, cheesy. But I don’t think you know how gorgeous you are.”

  She grinned up at him. “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

  “Now who is being cheesy?”

  She loved that he would be silly with her. She pressed her body against his. “After dinner, I’ll show you exactly how gorgeous you are.” She cupped his cock through his pants, and he groaned, half-laughing.

  “Now I have to go back in there with a tentpole.”

  “Go get ‘em, soldier.”

  Piper was kept busy for the rest of the day, and it wasn’t until it was almost time for dinner that she sent Emeli, who was drooping on her feet, back to Philip. “Take care of you and the Bean.”

  Piper tidied the paperwork and went to the hotel office. “Hey there, Katie. May I make some copies of this, please?”

  Katie, the sweet admin assistant, smiled at Piper. “Of course. You know where it is.”

  “Bill us for the cost, won’t you?”

  “Ah, don’t worry about it. There are some companies that take advantage of the facilities—yours isn’t one of them.”

  “You’re the best.”

  Piper walked down the corridor of the hotel into the photocopy room, wondering why hotels spent vast amounts on every part of the hotel except where their staff worked. Poor Katie, she thought, pushing open the door of the photocopy room, having to work in that cramped little office.

  Piper set the copier going, and as she heard the door open behind her, turned, expecting to see Katie. Carter Wentworth stood behind her, his hands in his pockets. Piper’s heart began to thump unpleasantly.

  “Hi, Piper. I thought I saw you come in here.” His tone was light and friendly. Piper gave him a half-smile.

  “How can I help?”

  Wentworth smirked. “Just wondering if I could get some of what you’re offering to my business partner.”

  “Excuse me?” Piper was appalled and her temper began to build. Wentworth grinned unrepentantly.

  “I’m just saying, he looks like twice the man he was yesterday …something to do with you?”

  Piper tried to get past him, but he didn’t move. “Mr. Wentworth, you are once again completely inappropriate.”

  “Why? You’re apparently providing Dalio with some kind of ‘specialist’ advice …why so shy? We could all do with some extra help.”

  He stepped closer to her, and Piper began to panic. “Come on, Piper girl, be friendly.” He pressed her back against the copier, and she could feel his erecti
on through his pants.

  “Get your hands off me, asshole,” she said, dropping all pretense of politeness, and to her amazement, he did, laughing and stepping away from her. But just as Piper thought she was clear, he grabbed her breasts and squeezed them. She slapped him, hard.

  The laughter died from his eyes, and instead, his cold gray eyes took on a dangerous look. “Careful, little girl,” he said, and suddenly Piper realized he was high on something. “Don’t cross me, or not even Dalio will be able to help you.”

  He turned and stalked out of the room. Piper let out the breath she had been holding. Had that actually happened? Wentworth threatening her? What the fuck was wrong with him.

  Piper finished her job, but she was deeply unsettled. She left a message at reception for Dalio to come to pick her up from her room when he was ready for dinner.

  In her room, she realized she was shaking. How did today go from exhilarating to terrifying just like that? She ran a bath—soak away the unease, she figured—but before she stepped into the hot water …she double-locked the door.

  “What’s this?

  Carter held up the manila envelope Dalio had just handed him without looking inside. Dalio sighed. “What do you think, Carter? I filed papers to dissolve our partnership.”

  Carter gaped at him. “You’re serious?”

  “Deadly. Come on now.” Dalio was frustrated. “You must have known this was coming. I’ve been unhappy for a couple of years—and we barely even communicate anymore. We have two different staffs and we go after different jobs. Carter, I want out—not just of the company but the industry. I want to go to Italy. I want a family.”

  Carter’s mouth hitched up in a patronizing smirk. “With the delectable Piper, no doubt.”

  Dalio’s eyes darkened. “Watch your mouth, Carter.”

  Wentworth shrugged. “It’s true, isn’t it? You fucked her last night.”

  “I’m warning you, Carter. You shut your mouth about Piper.”

  “Is she the reason you’re doing this?”

  Dalio held his hands out. “Are you insane? I just met her yesterday.”

  Carter said nothing, just swirled his drink around in his glass. Finally, he nodded at the envelope. “I’m going to give you time to reconsider that.”

  Dalio shook his head. “There’s nothing to reconsider. In that envelope is everything I need to dissolve the partnership. I don’t need your permission. I’m withdrawing my investment, plus fifty percent of the current cash-in-hand, and taking back the Corri name. My staff will come with me. Everything else is yours. I think you’ll find that’s more than fair.”

  He just wanted to get away from this man now and go find Piper. Carter tapped the envelope, his anger clear now. “I’ll ruin you.”

  Dalio shrugged. Carter’s threats were as empty as his head. “Try it. I don’t care,” he said. “A word of advice. Get off the cocaine, Carter. It’s making you do and say things that will get you into trouble.”

  Dalio got up, and Carter glowered at him. “I’m not going to let it go, Dalio.”

  Dalio shrugged. “I honestly don’t care, Carter. I’m out. See you around.”

  Carter went back to his room and lost it. He threw furniture around the room until his temper was sated, then sat down at the desk, hoovering up lines of coke. Fuck Dalio Corri. Fuck him. He could make it without that Italian pissant. With what talent? a small voice inside him asked.

  Carter opened the mini fridge and grabbed a bottle of vodka, sitting down at the desk to do more lines.

  The drugs raced through his bloodstream, fueling his rage. That girl, Piper. She was the reason Dalio had done this, Carter was sure—he didn’t buy they’d only just met. He only had to see them look at each other to know they could have been fucking for months. Jealousy squirmed in his belly. I should have fucked her in the photocopier room, he thought darkly. Well, next time I see you, you stuck-up bitch, I’ll make you pay.

  Carter gulped from the bottle of vodka, then unsteadily got up and went to the window. He saw his now ex-business partner and Piper walking hand-in-hand toward the small town, laughing and joking. Carter watched as Dalio stopped her and took her in his arms to kiss her. They looked so happy. Carter shook his head. You don’t get your happy ever after, Corri. Not with her. You have no idea what I’m prepared to do to take her away from you …

  Piper looked around as she sat in the small taverna. It was warm and cozy little restaurant, and she smiled as Dalio slid into the booth next to her. He leaned over to kiss her again, lingering as her lips moved gently against his.

  “You are intoxicating,” he murmured, his focus entirely on her. She was wearing a long, lilac silk sheath that clung to her curves. She stroked his face. He was wearing a dark blue sweater that brought out the green of his eyes, his dark hair swept back over his ears. Piper shook her head, smiling.

  “Do you even know how gorgeous you are?” How had she only known him for two days?

  Dalio trailed his lips across her bare shoulder. “When we get back to the hotel, cara mia,” he said in a low, intimate voice. “I’m going to fuck you and your exquisite body over and over until you beg me to stop.”

  Piper ran her fingers through his hair. “I’ll never beg you to stop,” she said, her whole body reacting to him. He slid a hand under her skirt, along her bare thigh, until his fingers touched her clit through her panties.

  “God, I want you now,” he growled to her, but she smiled, shaking her head.

  “Impatient boy. We have to eat first.”

  Dalio grinned and withdrew his hand. “Damn.”

  They were seated in a small booth toward the back of the restaurant, and when the waitress had taken their order, Dalio proceeded to kiss Piper thoroughly. “After supper, there is usually a band playing. They turn down the lights.” He ran a fingertip down her cheek. “When that happens, Piper, my darling one, just you wait and see what I do to you.”

  Piper shivered with anticipation, and after a meal of delicious truffle-scented pasta, the lights did soften and dim. Dalio moved closer.

  “Beautiful one,” he murmured, his lips at her ear. “Slide your panties off and put them in my pocket.”

  Piper, her heart racing and her cheeks aflame, did as he asked, and then Dalio pulled her on top of him, deftly hitching up her skirt at the back. It would look to anyone that she was just sitting on his lap to watch the band, but when she felt his huge cock pushing deep inside her, Piper couldn’t help the small moan that escaped her.

  The band—a jazz trio—started playing mellow music, and Piper moved gently, clenching her vagina around his cock as they moved together. One of his hands was splayed across her belly, steading her, the fingers of the other strumming a steady beat on her clit. Piper turned to gaze at him, and he looked back with clear, green eyes full of desire and lust. God, this man … She buried her face in his neck as her excitement began to ratchet up, her body on fire.

  “Keep it all inside, Piper,” he said softly. “Don’t give us away …would you like us to be caught?”

  She didn’t—but the thought of it made her so turned on that she had to press her lips to his and muffle her cry of release as she came. She felt his cock pumping thick reams of silky semen inside her.

  “I am crazy about you, Piper Le Jeune,” Dalio said breathlessly as she saw tiny beads of sweat break out of his glorious face. “I cannot stop thinking about you.”

  They caught their breaths, unseen by the other patrons. Piper kissed him with all the passion she felt at this moment. “Dalio when we get back to the hotel …I want to spend all night making love, in every way. There’s nothing I would try with you …you can fuck me any way you want, tied me up, whip me, fuck me in my ass …anything …anything …I’m drunk on you, Dalio, and I don’t ever want to get sober.”

  Dalio gave a growl of desire, and she could feel his cock getting hard again. She smiled at him. “I’ve never felt like this before,” she admitted. “Never. Before you …was there a
before you?”

  They both laughed. “I know how you feel,” he nodded. “For me, too. I never believed in that whole love at first sight thing …until now.”

  “Lust at first sight.” Piper laughed as he made a sulky look.

  “Spoilsport.”

  She giggled, wriggling into his arms. “Before we get too cheesy.”

  Dalio tightened his arms around her. “I don’t care about cheesy. I’m falling for you, Piper Le Jeune, and it’s going to take something pretty damn catastrophic for me to leave your side now.”

  Piper felt warmth flooding her system and she pressed her lips to his. “Take me back to the hotel, Corri,” she said, looking up at him from beneath her lashes, “And show me some of the things you want to do with me.”

  Dalio pulled the spaghetti straps from her shoulders and let the lilac silk dress slither down her body. “That color is amazing next to your skin,” he said, and she grinned. Naked, her full breasts bobbing slightly as she moved to kiss him, she was magnificent—all curves, her flat belly pressed against his as he ran his hands down her body. He cupped her butt as she wound her arms around his neck.

  “I’m so wet for you, Dalio. Can you feel me getting wet for you?”

  He grinned, slipping a hand between her legs. Her clit was rock-hard already, her cunt sodden and swollen. His cock responded immediately, and Piper smiled, unzipping his pants and reaching in for it.

  Dalio trailed his lips across her throat. “Principessa, will you lie on the bed and spread your legs for me, so I can watch you while I strip?”

  Piper nipped his bottom lip with her teeth, grinning, then did as he asked, spreading her long, shapely legs wide apart. Dalio pulled his clothes off quickly, admiring her red, swollen, glistening cunt. Piper slid her hand down and parted her labia, and Dalio’s cock spasmed painfully, such was his need for her.

  “I want you, Dalio Corri,” was all she said, and he was on top of her, hitching her legs over his shoulders and plunging his ramrod-hard cock deep into her. Piper cried out, urging him on and on as he rammed himself into her, balls deep, wanting to possess her entirely.