The Billionaires--A Lover's Triangle Novel

by Calista Fox

  “Suck my dick,” he told her, urgency tingeing his rough voice.

  Jewel shoved his pants and briefs downward, then knelt before him. Her fingers circled his shaft and he pulled in a sharp breath.

  She pumped slowly, at his root. Then her tongue ran the length of him to his tip, which she flicked playfully, making his hips jerk. Jewel smiled.

  “You little tease.”

  Gazing up at him, she said, “Teasing would imply I don’t intend to follow through. I have every intention of following through.”

  Her tongue swept along the groove of his head. Then her lips closed around him. She drew him into her mouth, inch by inch. Down to where she still firmly gripped him. Sucked hard. So fucking hard.

  A low growl escaped him. Rogen whisked away strands of hair from her face and held them off her shoulders, wanting to watch her pleasure him with her luscious mouth. Her eyes closed and she worked him good. His cock slid along her tongue, her teeth lightly scraping as she nearly released him and then took him deep again.

  “Oh, hell, yes,” he said on a sliver of air.

  She picked up the pace, her head bobbing as she stroked him and sucked with amazing skill. Her free hand cupped his balls and gently rolled and tugged, pushing him closer to the edge. Then the heel of her hand massaged his sac as her fingers grazed his cleft. The tip of one rimmed his anus.

  Not something Rogen was familiar with, but goddamn, did it feel good. He let her have at it, stroking and massaging and rimming. Suctioning him. Milking him. Until he was on the verge of losing it.

  He held her head in place, steady as he took over and fucked her mouth, his hips bucking, his breaths coming in heavy pulls.

  “Ah, damn,” he mumbled. “Jesus, you’re good.”

  She continued her ministrations and the pressure mounted within him. “Swallow me down, sweetheart.”

  At that very moment her finger pressed in and the sensation rocketed through him. Rogen exploded in her mouth. “Fuck, Jewel!”

  His body jolted. Tremors raced down his legs.

  His orgasm was a powerful one. Nearly bringing him to his knees.

  “Son of a bitch,” he ground out. His heart thundering and his cock throbbing.

  It’d easily been the best blow job of his life. Though, in the back of his mind, he recalled she’d not been such an expert the times he’d asked her to get him off this way.

  Jewel got to her feet, a triumphant look on her beautiful face. “See? No teasing.” She licked her lips saucily and then whirled around and sauntered off, likely to the restroom.

  His pulse still roaring in his veins, Rogen zipped up but yanked the belt from the loops and hung it over the arm of a chair. Left the top button of his jeans undone and his shirt off. He wasn’t finished with her.

  Though he couldn’t release the notion eating a hole in his brain. When Jewel returned, he said, “That was sensational. Vin teach you how to do that?”

  * * *

  Jewel skirted around him and lifted one of the glasses Rogen had poured. They were definitely dancing around the flame. She sipped the Sangiovese as she contemplated her answer.

  Indeed, Vin had instructed her on exactly how to make a man come fast and hard. He’d taught her a lot of things in bed. Things Rogen had no idea she knew.

  But something else took precedence. Facing him, she asked, “What business do we have? You said that’s why you’re here.”

  Rogen groaned. Because she hadn’t validated his suspicion? Or because of the new topic on deck?

  He said, “Just when we thought things couldn’t get stickier between us, I have to break some bad news to you.”

  “You’re still not going to sign the bill of sale.” Disappointment sat heavy in her belly. “Rogen. There’s no point in—”

  “Hear me out before you get pissed off. I’m actually on your side.”

  “Sorry, but I find that very hard to believe when it comes to this transaction.”

  He reached for his glass and pulled in a long drink. Then he told her, “My father’s going to renege on the deal.”

  She gaped.

  Rogen continued. “The scotch will disappear for a time but will eventually end up in his possession. He’ll have paid you, so no harm, no foul in his mind. And the Angelini portion of the land will stay in our portfolio.” He appeared contrite as he added, “It’s no consolation, Jewel, but he’s impressed with your resourcefulness. He just refuses to part with that property.”

  “Goddamn it,” she said, her heart sinking. Her dreams evaporating like the monks’ wine. “Fuck me.” She let out a humorless half snort. “In every conceivable way.”

  “Sweetheart.” Rogen tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry.”

  Gazing up at him, she simply said, “Sure.”

  His expression turned tormented. His fingertips brushed gently over her cheek. “It’s the truth, Jewel. I am sorry that my father would do something so underhanded, especially when you’re making a valiant effort to free up that land.”

  “It’s not just that, Rogen.” She stared at him imploringly. “There has to be a way to get our families to let go of the past and move on. Be friends again. Trust each other. They’re neighbors in a small community!”

  His caressing hand fell away. He stepped around her. Went back to attempting to wear a hole in her floorboards.

  But his apparent frustration and deliberation over the predicament was actually moot. Her big coup was dead in the water and there was nothing Rogen could do to help her salvage it.

  Her eyes squeezed shut. She’d like to have said she’d gotten so close to succeeding and feel a modicum of pride for attempting something bold and daring. But she hadn’t come even remotely close. She’d been stonewalled before she’d even shaken Gian Angelini’s hand.

  And should have known it.

  “Jewel.”

  Her lids fluttered open. Her eyes were a bit misty, and her pride took another hit. What a fool they all must think she was. Gian. Rose-Marie. Rogen. Vin.

  She turned away and sipped her wine, her nerves now frayed.

  She wanted to scream. Instead, she said, “I’ll bet Vin’s getting a good laugh out of this.”

  “Vin doesn’t know. And, for the record, no one’s getting a laugh out of it. I don’t even think my father’s happy with his strategy. But it’s the only one he’s got, and it’s the only way he’s going to feel a little vindication over what your father tried to pull off when Taylor got sick and my family’s attention was elsewhere.”

  “My father always contended he was doing right by the two businesses. That his projected profit margin was much wider than with a viticulture center and tasting room, to everyone’s benefit.”

  “And he had all the proof to back it up; that can’t be disputed. But the fact still remains, he cut my parents out of the decision-making and operated on his own.”

  Jewel turned back to Rogen. “Yes. You’re right. And all of this bullshit is just supposed to be chalked up to best practices? What was supposed to be most advantageous for the bottom line? Except there is no bottom line with that property I want, as long as we all remain in a stalemate. So my father might as well have built his marketplace fifteen years ago and split the profits with your family. They would have made money—not lost it. Not continued to lose it.”

  “In a roundabout way … yes. That is true.” Rogen stopped his pacing and asked, “What do you want with that land?”

  “An inn. With plenty of room for events and weddings. Plus a Nicklaus– or Jim Engh–designed golf course. But what does it matter?”

  It’s a dead stick now.

  She winced inwardly.

  “So much for progress,” Jewel said. “And trying to bridge our families. It was a stupid idea, wasn’t it?” She stared up at Rogen again, her heart aching.

  He gave her a solemn look, which only made her hurt more.

  “It wasn’t a stupid idea, sweetheart. In fact, it’s a fantastic idea. Very smart
, Jewel.”

  She fought the emotion crushing in on her. Latched on to what Vin had said at the restaurant. She asked, “Was there something you wanted to do with all that acreage?”

  Rogen rubbed the back of his neck, as though tension had knotted the nerves. She was momentarily distracted by his bulging biceps and tanned skin.

  He told her, “I want to grow on it. Mostly hybrids. Have my own winery.”

  “Wow.” She was a bit blown away. “You never mentioned that.”

  “Because I was supposed to become Chief Operating Officer of Angelini, Inc., and juggle headquarters in Tuscany and secondary operations in River Cross. I never imagined there’d be time left over for anything else. But all five distilleries have been in my family for generations and it’s fairly smooth sailing.”

  He paced a little more.

  Jewel regarded him thoughtfully, wondering what all he had yet to tell her.

  Rogen said, “Sure, like everyone else, we suffer from the threat of frost and freezing, wildfires, infestations, the economy, labor disputes, all that. But in the grand scheme of things, we’ve been a well-oiled machine for centuries. Yes, evolution throws a wrench in the works from time to time. It’s never anything critical … just proper advancement with new technologies. I want a different challenge.”

  She took a few steps toward him. “Along with your own contribution to the dynasty? Your own legacy?”

  “I will admit, I never felt my destiny was just to feel content to be born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I work hard, no doubt. But not as hard as I would if I had to build something from the ground up and its success was my sole responsibility.”

  “Proof we’re not just heirs, but entrepreneurs.”

  His gaze locked with hers. “Yes.”

  “And you’d like to see an end to this feud, too. Right?”

  “Absolutely. Our parents were incredibly close once upon a time. It’s disturbing to see them hold a grudge for so long. And I could tell when you showed up unexpectedly at the gala, their first concern was that something had happened at your estate. They were worried, even if they couldn’t admit it out loud.”

  “I agree.”

  Mere inches separated them and they stared into each other’s eyes while the air shifted and something new brewed between them.

  Jewel couldn’t keep herself from taking a huge leap of faith as a fresh idea sprang to mind and exhilaration chased down her spine. “You came here to warn me that I was going to get screwed out of my deal. Your father won’t be pleased to know you tipped me off.”

  “No, he won’t be.”

  “But you did it anyway.”

  “You don’t deserve to get thrown under the bus any more than I do.”

  “True. Still…” She pressed a palm to his chest, over his heart. His muscles bunched at her touch, making all her intimate parts tingle. Somehow, she remained focused on the issue at hand. She said, “You chose me over him in this instance.”

  Rogen’s teeth ground. Jewel saw the defining moment for what it was. They’d each had to do a hell of a lot of fighting to break free of some of the ideals of two powerful families and hadn’t fully achieved that. There were some concessions Jewel still had to ask her parents for—land that she wanted to build on, for example.

  But then again … no. She wasn’t just asking to be handed something for nothing. She’d been willing to do whatever was necessary to get the Angelinis to consent to a sale. She was willing to work for what she wanted. To create something meaningful for herself, for her future, and for her family name.

  And potentially reunite old friends in the process.

  Rogen was willing to do the same.

  So …

  Her gaze turned hopeful, she was sure.

  Rogen looked suspiciously at her. “What are you thinking?”

  “That an inn and a winery are a fabulous combination.”

  “Jewel—”

  “Just wait. Listen.” She started to do some pacing of her own. It helped her to think more clearly, sort out all the details. Not get caught up in the delicious sight and scent of him. “If we could keep this deal from falling apart and I sold you half of the land after I acquired it from my parents, you could grow and I could build. And we could prove to everyone that Catalanos and Angelinis can trust each other and partner together. It’d be our own joint venture.”

  Because Jewel believed in Rogen enough to know that he would never cheat her out of a transaction. She had a lifetime of reasons to rely on that intuition, and one more that had occurred this evening because he’d come here to warn her about his father’s intentions. Rogen had sacrificed a bit of family loyalty for her sake. That couldn’t have been easy for him, a man who prided himself on loyalty and integrity.

  Clearly, he felt loyalty toward her as well.

  “Rogen,” she said insistently. “We could both create our own legacies. There’s no reason why we can’t do this together.”

  “Aside from our parents not signing on the dotted line?”

  “My father agreed. If there’s some way to keep your father from double-crossing me, then all you have to do is provide the final signature and we’re in business.”

  He mulled this over. She could practically see his brain churning. With possibilities. Hope. Excitement.

  Jewel’s pulse raced.

  “We could totally do this,” she assured him. “I’ll dump the golf course in lieu of a vineyard. Think of the events we could host with an inn and a winery!”

  Rogen nodded. “You’re right. It’d be a great combo.”

  “And the perfect location.”

  He gave it further thought. A slow grin spread across his tempting lips. “Damn, Jewel. It’s a fucking incredible idea.” His enthusiasm grew with every passing second. His hands cupped her face. He stared deep into her eyes. Still grinning. Then he said, “We’re gonna need Vin’s help.”

  Jewel’s racing pulse came to an abrupt halt. Her stomach took a serious dive south.

  “No,” she said. “Not Vin.”

  “We need legal counsel, Jewel,” Rogen said. “Someone who can free that property from all the restrictions placed on it and ensure we execute a solid, loop-free deal all the way around.”

  “Rogen…” She shook her head. “Not him.”

  Rogen’s brow furrowed. The snapping of the fire filled the quiet room as he seemed to wade through her adamant response. Finally, he asked, “Why not Vin? We’ve been friends with him since we were kids. It makes total sense.”

  “I don’t trust him!” she blurted. Then pressed a hand to her mouth. Tried to collect herself. Dragging her hand away—stepping away—she attempted to explain. “It’s not that I don’t trust him in general. I do.”

  For God’s sake, she’d let him fuck her ass in the bathroom at Bristol’s. Knowing he’d be careful. And hadn’t he been concerned when he’d first entered her? Then worried over whether he’d hurt her?

  It was that whole broken-hearts thing that she couldn’t get past. How had she broken Vin’s heart? Had he actually been in love with her back then? He’d never once said the words. But that could have been because of her association with Rogen. And for that matter …

  She pinched the bridge of her nose with her finger and thumb. She was going in wayward directions. So she told Rogen, “I just don’t think I can trust him with my future plans. He’s got some serious issues with me that I can’t even begin to dissect or fix.”

  Rogen frowned. “That might be my fault, sweetheart.”

  NINE

  “No,” Jewel asserted. “It’s circumstance and teenage drama. Let’s face it. We were kids who grew up fast and did some mature things we weren’t exactly mature enough to handle or understand. I’m not even sure I’m experienced enough right now to reconcile all the intricate nuances when it comes to the three of us.”

  Rogen looked a bit taken aback. Because he didn’t know the extent of her involvement with Vin?

  She said, “I’m bei
ng honest here. There is so much spiraling out of control inside me from seeing you and Vin the other night … and these subsequent meetings.”

  “You two need to work this all out. Especially if we’re going to move forward with our plans.” Rogen extracted his iPhone from his front pocket, hit a contact in the list, and handed over the device.

  Jewel stared at a smirking Vin onscreen, knowing he’d probably flipped Rogen off after Rogen had taken the photo. Again, she thought of how well the two men complemented each other and how close they’d always been, even with her thrown into the mix.

  “Do it, Jewel. You two can’t go on like this. I can see it’s tearing you up as much as it is him. And, damn it, we do need him.”

  She took a deep breath. Her heart picked up several extra beats. It took a hell of a lot of courage, but she connected the call. Wholly uncertain of how much more conflict she was about to create for the three of them. How much more she could take.

  “Hey, man,” Vin came on the line, his enticing tone sending shivers down her spine, despite her trepidation. “I was ready to hit a bar for a beer, but Lane said you’d already left the office for the night.”

  “It’s Jewel,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. She cleared her throat in hopes of covering it up.

  Vin was silent for a few tense moments, then said in a gruffer voice, “Since you’re calling me on Rogen’s phone, I can assume you just wanted to let me know you were with him?”

  Jewel’s brow dipped. That wasn’t anger in his voice. That was pain. Again.

  A curious thought ribboned through her mind, but she couldn’t clutch it tightly enough to discern its full meaning.

  She said, “Try to be a little less hostile. We’re discussing business. And we’d like your help.”

  “You’re trying to talk him into selling to you, aren’t you? Or”—Vin’s tone now held the anger she’d been expecting—“seduce him into selling?”

  “Stop being so agitated. We’ve decided to go into business together. Sort of.” She didn’t want to elaborate over the phone. Rogen was right about her needing to work things out with Vin. Just to set all the records straight, at the very least. “Rogen came into the city tonight. He was waiting for me when I got home from work. Can you meet us?”