House of Cards (Tech Billionaires)

by Ainsley St Claire

  The burner phone chirps and vibrates as it sits on the coffee table in the middle of the room. I haven’t spoken to Mother since our blow up before I left. My heart races, and my palms begin to sweat. Zack stares at his wrist and nods.

  “Hello, Mother.” I take a few silent deep breaths and will myself to sound aloof and calm while I wait to see which one of her many personalities she will present. Will she be angry, worried, or sickeningly sweet?

  “Darling, where are you?”

  Sickeningly sweet it is. Could she be tracking me? I hoped we were overreacting.

  “I’m in San Francisco. Don’t you remember?”

  She’s quiet a moment. “Oh, yes of course.” She’s quiet again. “But I thought you were due home today.”

  “I’ll be home in a few days. I’m enjoying my time with Christopher and Bella. Plus, I’m working on some Foundation things while I’m here.”

  “You really need to come home soon,” she presses. “I’m sure Alex misses you. And we need to work on your wedding.”

  “No, we really don’t. I told you, I won’t be having a high-society event.” I glance over at Zack, and he warns me we’re approaching the two-minute mark, which makes the call traceable. “Listen, I’ve got to run. I’ll call soon,” I tell her and disconnect the call.

  Uneasiness grips me. “Did I make it in time?”

  “Yes.” He nods, looking at his phone. “Jim wants me to take the SIM card out of the burner and replace it with this one.” He holds up a little electronic card smaller than a dime. “It has a different phone number.”

  “How will I talk to my mom and convince her I’m still in San Francisco?”

  “We’re converting it to a VoIP, which will scramble the location with the help of a VPN.”

  I look at him, confused.

  He smiles. “The VoIP is an Internet-based phone number, and the VPN will have it jumping to multiple servers all over the globe. So the next time you talk, you can talk a little longer. It’ll jump every thirty seconds. But at some point, we’ll have to change it up again.”

  Zack heads off with my phone, leaving me alone. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to wander through the apartment, snooping, so I stay put in the living room. I stare out the window at the desert. The last time I was here I told Jonnie I was getting married. I hurt him. I didn’t want to…but now I have no idea what’s going to happen.

  My mind is like a pinball machine, bouncing from one thing to another. This happens when I don’t sleep well—and probably also when my life is crazy. Last night was amazing, but we didn’t sleep. My mind goes to what we did do. I’m a little sore, but in a good way. The mental ping-pong continues as I lie back on the couch.

  I really didn’t expect Jonnie to want anything more to do with me after I told him I was marrying Alex. His reaction makes me realize I don’t have many true friends in my life. But I think he’s one.

  I loved having dinner with him last night. The food was amazing. I think my pants fit a little tighter today. I can’t eat like that very often.

  My brother and Bella are so happy together. I’ve never seen Christopher so relaxed and calm. It makes me feel sad all over again at the prospect of marrying someone I’m not in love with. Also, Christopher is truly happy in San Francisco, and it’s great to know that’s possible, even for a Reinhardt. I don’t want to drag him back into this disaster at home. I just don’t have much choice.

  I wonder what Alex is doing. I should talk to him…maybe. I just don’t know if he’s also being hung out to dry, or if he’s somehow involved in this.

  The sex last night was mind-blowing. I’ve never had that intense of an orgasm, let alone that many. Jonnie has ruined me for all other men.

  I turn my Kindle on. I only feel safe doing so because we turned the Whispersync off. But I can’t concentrate long enough to read. I keep looking at the same two sentences over and over. Nothing grabs my attention.

  I pace in front of the windows, and then worry I’ll wear a hole in the floor coverings. Is this considered carpeting? Or a woven grass?

  After a while, I don’t know how much more I can take. Then just when it seems like forever, I hear the door, and it’s been less than two hours Jonnie was gone. My anxiety dissipates as he walks over and kisses me.

  “You look beautiful. Las Vegas suits you.”

  “Thank you. I would have changed, but I didn’t know where my luggage was and didn’t want to snoop around.”

  He smiles. “I asked them to put it in my room.”

  My eyes go wide, and my pulse quickens.

  He holds me tight and kisses the top of my head. “I understand my feelings are new to you, but I’ve spent every day since you told me you were going to marry Alex telling myself that if I ever got a second chance, I was going to be honest.” He takes both my hands in his and looks at me. “But at the same time, I don’t want to scare you. Just know that I love you very much, and I will take this at whatever speed you need me to.”

  He loves me? My heart breaks a little bit. I don’t want to think about what’s going to happen when everything falls apart. I just want to hold him close. I step in and kiss him, our tongues tasting and growing anxious with each passing second.

  I bite my lip and stare up through my eyelashes. “I haven’t had a tour of your place since it was decorated.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?” He holds my hand and escorts me down the long hallway. “This is our bedroom.”

  It’s beautiful, done in various shades of lavender with a king-sized, four-poster bed. “I love it.” I turn to him, and he begins to unbutton my blouse.

  “Do you know how many times I’ve fantasized about you being here with me?”

  I shake my head. “What did you imagine doing in this beautiful bedroom?”

  His kisses are soft, and his hands explore. Soon I’m standing in my bra and panties.

  “I’ve wanted you for so long,” he whispers.

  I feel the hardness against my stomach grow. I want to taste it, to feel it. I move to get on my knees, but he stops me.

  “You first,” he says.

  He steps away and examines me. I think of the roundness of my too-big breasts, my too-wide hips, and my straight blonde hair. I half worry he’s going to run out of the room, never to return.

  “You are stunning,” he sighs. “Your skin is glowing in the orange light of the sunset.”

  Bowing my head, I reach for Jonnie’s belt. I contend with the buckle as I stare into his eyes. His gaze doesn’t waver as I slowly loosen his trousers and they fall to the floor. Once I unbutton and remove his shirt, he kicks away his pants and socks, and we fall together, as one, onto the bed.

  Jonnie’s lips crash urgently onto mine, needing, taking. He maneuvers his body so he’s lying above me, and his naked chest slides across my skin. I think I may pass out from the adrenaline high. The weight of his body traps me, and I never want to escape. My breathing speeds up, and I can make out his smell of citrus and clean. My hands roam his hair and across his muscular shoulders and back, and all the while I’m kissing him back with fervor. When my hands drop to stroke across his well-muscled ass, still covered by a pair of cotton boxer shorts, a groan reverberates in his throat.

  Breaking away, he places soft, light kisses over my neck, across my collarbone, and along the edge of my bra. Gasping for breath, my eyes roll back as he changes direction and places his mouth directly over my nipple. He gently clamps his teeth around the sensitive flesh, partially protected by my silk bra, until my body hardens beneath his touch.

  “Oh, fuck,” I groan. A strong pulse beats between my legs, and a white spark of light flashes across my eyes, even though they’re closed. I feel ridiculously turned on, with liquid pooling in my swollen pussy. Jonnie’s hand migrates to my back, and he releases the catch of my bra. Stroking the straps from my shoulders, he removes the offending article, allowing the warm air to caress my naked breasts.

  “Mmmm,” he murmurs as h
is lips wrap around my erect nipple.

  A thrill passes through my body as his tongue darts over my skin. After ensuring the other nipple isn’t left out, he migrates farther down my body.

  “I need you inside me. Please,” I beg.

  “So demanding,” he says, looking up at me, his tongue lazily circling my bellybutton. Hooking his thumbs inside my silk panties, he slowly pulls them down my legs, eventually casting them aside, onto the floor.

  “You’re incredibly sexy, Ms. Reinhardt.” His lips drop to my bare pussy, and he inhales deeply.

  “I need you,” I reply, pulling him up until we’re face to face.

  I bite him softly on the shoulder and push him back into the duvet. I caress my way down his body, over his taut stomach and down the line of downy hair that eventually disappears into bare smoothness under his boxer shorts. Pulling his last remaining garment down and away from his body, I’m thrilled to uncover his sizeable erection. Using the tips of my fingers, I take my time stroking up his thighs and over his balls, reveling in his sharp intake of breath as my hand moves up his thick, solid shaft. I close my eyes and moan softly at the feel of Jonnie’s incredible cock, which I stroke softly with the palm of my hand.

  When he places his hand on the inside of my knee, I jump. But this quickly turns to anticipation as he encourages my legs to move farther apart.

  “I’ve dreamed of you splayed out like this in my bed, and it didn’t do you any justice.” He groans as I circle my wet thumb over the engorged head of his cock.

  With the lightest of touches, he runs his fingers along my inner thigh, the look on his face telling me he’s fully aware of the desperate tension he’s causing in my body. When he reaches my swollen lips, he brushes across them before caressing the opposite thigh. I’m panting noisily now, and my grip around him tightens.

  Jonnie gradually trails his fingers toward the pool of liquid between my legs. As he pushes one finger deep inside, I cry out. He slides his finger forward until he reaches the base of my clit. He holds his finger in place, applying exquisite pressure and allowing the tension to build.

  “Fuck me.” I exhale through gritted teeth.

  “Expletive or request?” he asks.

  “Either…both—” I cry out as Jonnie adds his thumb to the mix, positioning it at the top of my clit and making a small circular motion.

  “I’m on the pill,” I gasp as he begins a set of slow strokes.

  “I’m clean and have paperwork somewhere here to prove it.” He begins to ramp up the pressure, and I can feel the early signs of an orgasm building inside my body.

  “I need to feel you,” I demand.

  Suddenly, Jonnie’s hand clamps tightly around my wrist, preventing me from stroking him any further. He maneuvers me back on the bed, leaning over me. As he drops his mouth to mine, I wind my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. Moving his hand between our bodies, he positions himself and pushes a little inside me. I feel so full.

  Breaking our kiss, he pulls slightly away and gazes into my eyes. Without a word, he begins to slide into my tight, desperate, quivering body.

  “Oh...my...God,” I groan as he buries himself within me, every wonderful ridge and curve of him feeling gloriously magnified. I close my eyes and take in the sensation.

  “Look at me,” orders Jonnie. “I want you to keep watching.” He smiles as he continues to sink into my tight, twitching body until he’s buried to the hilt. I take a sharp breath, aware that I’m currently being stretched wide and loving every second of it. Rocking his hips, Jonnie pulls partway out before pushing himself forward once again.

  I groan as my internal muscles clench around his solid mass. Once again, Jonnie retreats, pausing for a short time before thrusting himself inside once again. I cry out, a ferociously strong orgasm building inside me with every stroke.

  “I want to see you lose control,” breathes Jonnie, partly pulling out once more, forcing me to wait for the overwhelming sensation I know I’ll feel when he plows himself back into my body. “You,” he says, slamming himself into me and pulling back. “Are...so...fuck...ing...sex...y.” He thrusts his hips with each syllable muttered.

  “Oh, God! Please don’t stop!’ I beg as I begin to scale the heights of my orgasm. “Please. Please.”

  “You like it hard?” grunts Jonnie.

  With a pleading groan, I nod, unable to find the words to respond.

  “Hold tight, then.”

  With a hand out to brace himself, he hooks one of my legs over his shoulder, opening my body wide to him. He thrusts long and hard with a rhythm that makes me cry out and pushes me toward the dizzy heights of my all-consuming orgasm. Just before my release, when my body is tense and set to explode, Jonnie sucks his thumb into his mouth and then rolls it gently around my clit. At the same time, he speeds up his thrusting hips until I’m pushing effortlessly into a noisy, violent orgasm.

  As pleasure crashes through my body, Jonnie lays still, allowing my internal muscles to contract in waves around his rock-hard cock. Then just as I’m starting to recover, he resumes circling his thumb and rocking his hips.

  “Oh, no! No!” I moan as Jonnie pushes my body immediately back towards a second orgasm.

  Showing no mercy, he pushes me beyond the boundaries of any pleasure I’ve previously experienced. When I begin to tire, he drops his mouth to my nipples and clamps down. I roar in response, the sensation a jump start to my fatiguing body. A short while later, his thrusts become more random and much less controlled.

  “I’m sorry, I’m going to come…”

  He groans, and despite my exhaustion, I can feel a change in his thick cock within me. My body clenches even more tightly around him in response.

  “Oh, God!” I shriek as he slams himself harder and harder into me and my muscles spasm into yet another orgasm. With a final thrust, Jonnie roars as he pumps his cum deep inside my body. We collapse back onto the bed, and he drops his lips to mine and kisses me tenderly, on and on.

  We’re both beyond spent and breathing raggedly. Jonnie pulls a blanket over us, and I spoon against his body.

  “Always and forever,” I hear him mumble as I drift off to sleep.

  Chapter 22

  Maggie

  It’s day three, and I’ve been reduced to watching reruns of America’s Top Model—the season Sophie Summer wins. You can tell her designs are far better than anyone else’s. I’ve watched six episodes back-to-back, and I can’t take another one. I’ve paced the apartment, worked out, and am planning my lunch—all before ten.

  Jonnie and Jim don’t think it’s a good idea for me to leave the apartment. I understand this in theory, and I’ve only been here two days, but I wonder if it’s possible to die of boredom. Nothing holds my interest—I can’t work, and while Jonnie’s busy, I can’t play. I want to explore the city and get lost.

  I don’t quite understand it, actually. I spend many days not leaving my room at home during the winter, and I love it. It’s probably because I can’t leave that I feel so boxed in.

  I check my email, and again I see messages from the wedding planner. She’s sent a half dozen this morning. I’m tired of this. My mother should have told her by now, but obviously, she’s not going to, leaving it to me.

  I fire off an email to Veronique and carbon copy my mother and Alex.

  I truly appreciate all you’ve done for the wedding on Alex’s and my behalf. However, we’ve decided to go a different direction. Thank you for all your beautiful designs. We’ll be sure to recommend you to anyone looking for a wedding planner.

  I push send and feel like I got something accomplished today. Wandering into the kitchen, I open the fridge for the twentieth time. I’m not much of a cook, but the freezer is full of options.

  I hear a phone ring, but it’s not familiar, so I ignore it. It stops and starts again. I realize it’s the ringtone to my new burner phone.

  Oops.

  Racing over to answer it, I expect my mother, but it’s Alex.
I feel better about this, although I’m not sure I should.

  “Hey, you,” I answer.

  “Where are you?” he asks immediately.

  I don’t answer that. “Did you read my email?”

  “Yeah. What the fuck? You’re canceling the wedding? My father is going to go apeshit.”

  I’m a bit taken aback. I would have thought he’d be thrilled.

  “Well, my mother’s not thrilled either,” I say with as much indifference as I can muster. “This is what I was going to tell you the other day. I figured out a small way to do something for myself—for us. I didn’t think you were into a big production either.” When he says nothing, I continue. “I’m not canceling the marriage, only the outrageous shindig. I told my mother we’d get married at City Hall. Isn’t your friend Edward a judge?”

  “Maggie!” He’s near hysterics. “You can’t cancel the wedding without talking to me!”

  “What’s the big deal? I didn’t think you’d care.”

  He inhales a big breath. “I don’t, but I’m also not interested in the hellfire my folks are going to rain down on me. Where are you?”

  “I’m still in San Francisco. You know that.”

  “Your mother told me you left San Francisco.”

  The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

  “Where did she tell you I was?” I ask, trying to sound normal, though alarms are going off in my head. What is Alex’s angle here?

  “She didn’t say. She only wanted to be sure I was talking to you regularly, and I assured her I was. Now not knowing about the wedding being canceled makes it seem like we’re not talking.”

  I don’t know why it matters to anyone if we’re talking, and I’m still not sure whose side he’s on.

  “Please tell her I’m at my brother’s, if she asks. Remind her I’ll be home late tomorrow night as planned. Jeez, it’s like everyone is freaking out. I’m in San Francisco, taking meetings about Operation Happy Holiday, as I told everyone I would be doing before I left. I discussed the change in the wedding with my mother before my trip, and I was tired of waiting for her to tell Veronique. She kept emailing me. We pay for Veronique’s time, but I felt bad that we were wasting it.”