Just like it should be, I thought, squaring my shoulders and puffing my chest out as I strode through the neighborhoods. Back when I’d first gotten out of prison, I hadn’t realized the effect on people. But that had been years ago, and now it was very clear to me that I cut a frightening form. And if I was going to find Leo, I had to keep that up for as long as I could.
I asked everywhere I could think of. I went to every chop shop in Boston looking for him. I went to every back-alley “pizza joint” that was clearly a front for the mob. I even started listening to the police scanner in my office at work, hoping for a tip-off.
But there was nothing. And by the end of the week, I knew I was going to have to do something really drastic if I wanted to find Leo McKinney alive.
The next Friday, I took Laci out to a Russian restaurant by the waterfront. It was exclusive, and most people weren’t able to get restaurants. But just like the sight of my eyes and tattooed frame frightened the people in the streets, the name Jordan West was equally powerful…just in different ways.
“This is really something,” Laci whispered. She put her hand in mine as we walked into the main dining room. “I feel like I’ve gone back in time by about two hundred years.”
“You’re right,” I said. I chuckled. “This place is out there.”
As Laci and I moved past the different tables, I noticed a lot of men checking her out. Of course, it was hard not to – she wore a tight black minidress that perfectly complimented her slender curves and her brown hair was tied into an elegant knot at the back of her head, exposing her creamy, delicate neck. I wanted to bury my face in her neck and bite until she cried out with pain, but I knew I had to restrain myself…at least until the end of the meal. After our first date, I’d gone home with the worst case of blue balls that I’d ever had. It had been exquisite, perfect torture. And while I was sure she was probably going to make me wait a little bit longer, I knew that sleeping with Laci would be every bit as perfect as I wanted it to be. There was no denying she had pure sexual energy that flowed from her bright blue eyes. Despite her sweet, girl-next-door manners, I had a feeling that I was going to unleash a well of passion in Laci that would be impossible to contain.
Still, that didn’t mean I wanted other men ogling what was mine. And Laci Wright was most definitely mine. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted another woman.
“Champagne or vodka?” I asked as we sat down. “Both are excellent with caviar.”
Laci flushed, two perfect circles of pink on her pale cheeks. “Whichever,” she said. “I trust you.” She winked at me and I grinned, knowing that she remembered our inside joke from our last date.
“Fuck it,” I said, smirking. “Let’s get both.”
To start, I ordered a bottle of champagne, a bottle of vodka, caviar service, and roasted duck thighs.
“Wow,” Laci said nervously as the waiter rolled the caviar service to our table. “This is really something, Jordan. Are you sure about this?” She giggled. “I don’t even know that I like caviar. I’ve never had it, after all.”
I winked at her. Taking a blini in my hands, I dabbed some caviar on top, then added a small dollop of sour cream and some chives.
“Open your mouth.”
Laci licked her lips – the sight was enough to make my cock hard – then obediently opened her mouth and closed her eyes. With a wolfish grin, I slid the blini inside her mouth, gently running the edge of my finger along the inside of her lip.
“Now chew,” I said, removing my fingers and wiping them on my napkin. Other patrons were staring, but I didn’t give a shit. I wanted to give Laci the most sensual dinner she’d ever have…and then a dozen hot, sweaty orgasms for dessert. And maybe strawberries and whipped cream, I thought, imagining the sight of Laci’s naked body, spread-eagled on my bed, with whipped cream leading down to her wet, waiting pussy. I had to resist the urge to groan as my balls ached with desire.
Laci chewed, then swallowed. I handed her a flute of champagne and she sipped.
“That was delicious,” she said, running the tip of her pink tongue over her lower lip. “It feels a little gross eating eggs, though.”
I laughed. “Don’t worry about it,” I said. “They can’t feel anything.”
Laci giggled. She tossed her head and I stared at her swanlike neck. In the intimate, candle-lit Russian restaurant, she looked more beautiful than ever.
“More champagne?”
Laci nodded and I refilled her flute, feeling decadent and rich and arrogant. In my opinion, it was the best way to feel…especially with a woman like Laci at my side.
“So,” Laci said. She cleared her throat. “Last time, when we were out together, I asked you about where you grew up.” She bit her lip and glanced away. “And you didn’t really tell me very much. What about your family? Are they around here?”
My lustful arrogance vanished and I shook my head, trying hard to maintain my poker face.
“Some are,” I said. “I have a brother.”
“Oh, that must be so nice,” Laci said. She smiled sweetly. “Are you close?” Without waiting for me to answer, she rambled on: “I don’t know what I’d do without Jenna. She’s my best friend, even if she does get on my nerves all the time. But I always wanted a brother – an older brother, you know? I got teased a lot in school.”
I smirked and reached for her hand. “If anyone tries to bully you now, I’ll kick their ass and make them wish they’d never been born.”
“What about your brother, though?” Laci pressed on.
I shrugged. “He’s always done his own thing,” I said, thinking of James. “Our father died years ago.”
“Oh, that’s so awful,” Laci said. Tears came to her blue eyes. “How old were you?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. I grinned. “Hey, it’s something else we’ve got in common.”
Laci frowned. “Jordan, that’s never a good thing,” she said softly. “I’m just sorry you had to go through that.”
“It was a long time ago,” I said drily. “And a lot has happened between now and then. Hey, how was your week at work?”
Laci gave me a skeptical look. “Why won’t you answer any of my questions?” She asked. “Are you ashamed? Jordan, you know I’m not interested in you for your money…I wouldn’t care about your family, even if they were bad people!”
“I’ll tell you sometime.” Just saying the words was a struggle. “But not right now, okay?”
Laci pouted, but after a few seconds, she nodded. “Okay,” she said. “That’s only fair.” She bit her lip. “I just want to know you, Jordan. I want to know everything about you.” Her usually timid voice took on a hint of intensity.
“I know,” I said. I took her hand and kissed it. “And I want to know everything about you, too. But this is only our second date. Don’t you think we should keep things lighter for now?”
The look on Laci’s face clearly said ‘no,’ but she didn’t push the subject.
“Okay,” Laci said after a few moments. “I guess you’re right.”
As we ate and talked in the candlelit restaurant, I realized that when I was around Laci, I felt like I’d never felt before. It was so strange – my heart was pounding just from looking at her, just from thinking about what it would be like to get close to her.
Was I falling in love?
Chapter Six
Laci
After my steamy second date with Jordan, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. Every part of me, every cell in my body was dying for close contact with him. I couldn’t even kiss him now without getting wet, and the way his intense brown eyes flicked over my body always made me feel hot and bothered.
“What’s with you?”
The sound of Taylor’s voice brought me back to reality. We were sitting in the teacher’s lounge, sipping coffee with a pile of papers in front of us. I knew I should be working, but all I could think about was Jordan. What was he doing? Was he thinking of me?
>
And more importantly, did he feel the same way? Was he counting the hours until we saw each other again?
“Sorry,” I said, shaking my head and blushing. “I’m a little distracted today.”
Taylor snorted. “You’ve been a little distracted most days now that you’ve started dating that guy,” she said. She laughed. “So, you’re really falling for him, aren’t you?”
I shrugged, even though I knew I was. “Yeah, I think so,” I said slowly. “I mean, we’re still getting to know each other. But I could see it going in that direction for sure.”
“Well, try to keep your head in the game,” Taylor said. “You don’t want to show all your cards at once, you know?”
I frowned.
“And don’t tell me it’s too late for that,” Taylor said. She tossed her hair over one shoulder. “You really want to play hard to get, especially if he’s really wealthy.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What does money have to do with anything? He likes me for me,” I added. “And I don’t care that he’s rich. I wouldn’t care if he wasn’t rich,” I added.
Taylor giggled. “You’re so cute,” she said.
I frowned. “Don’t be so patronizing,” I told her. “You forget what it’s like to start dating someone and get really excited about them.”
Taylor flicked her gaze up to where Nick was sitting, a few seats away. “Yeah,” she said. There was a touch of wistfulness in her voice. “I guess I have. Sorry, Laci.”
I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.” I swallowed. “I’m just nervous, I guess.”
“Nervous? About what?”
I glanced down at my hands twined together in my lap and flushed.
Taylor’s eyes got big, but thankfully she didn’t say anything too incriminating. “Ah,” she said. “Well, that’s coming up now, isn’t it? Tonight’s what? Your third date?”
I nodded.
“And?”
I blushed again. “I want to,” I said quietly, hoping Nick wouldn’t overhear. “But I don’t want him to think I’m too easy. Or too forward.”
To my dismay, Nick’s head perked up and he started laughing. “Oh my god,” he said, shaking his head. “Are you guys really talking about sex?”
“Shut up,” Taylor hissed through gritted teeth. “Laci, let’s go.”
“No, wait,” Nick said. Chuckling, he got to his feet. “Laci, let me tell you something that practically every man could sense about you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t think I want to hear it,” I said.
“Well, too bad – no man is going to think you’re easy,” Nick said. He laughed again and rolled his eyes. “You’re like, Miss Priss.”
“Ew!” I wrinkled my nose and got to my feet. “Taylor, come on.”
Taylor followed me out of the teacher’s lounge, glaring hotly at Nick. “He’s such an asshole,” she said as we made our way down the hall and into the bright sunshine. The school year was almost over, but now that I’d met Jordan, I’d gone from worrying about what I’d do with all my free time to looking forward to spending it with him.
“And don’t listen to him,” Taylor said firmly. “He’s such a dick.”
I shrugged and glanced down at my outfit. I’d been so tired that morning that instead of making an effort, I’d only thrown on a light sweater and a pair of slacks.
“I don’t know,” I said, hesitating slightly. “Maybe he had a point. I’m not exactly what most guys would call hot.”
“Laci, you can’t think like that,” Taylor said. “You’re gorgeous. You’re just a little…”
“A little what?”
Taylor looked embarrassed. “Casual,” she said. “But I bet Jordan loves the way you look.”
I flushed when I remembered how he’d stared at me during our last date. “Yeah,” I said. “But it’s different with him, you know? I actually feel something – I actually feel sexy.”
“Then that means that tonight’s the night,” Taylor said. She gave me an impish grin. “And don’t try to tell me otherwise.”
“Does it hurt?”
Taylor bit her lip. “It did for me,” she said. “But I wasn’t exactly ready. I was still a teenager – obviously, I hadn’t even heard the word ‘foreplay’ before.”
“Do you think it’ll hurt for me?”
Taylor shrugged. “Just make sure you’re ready. It might hurt, yeah. But who knows,” she added, winking at me. “From what you’ve told me, this guy is a total stud. I don’t think he sounds like the type to be ignorant of your needs.”
I fanned myself. “I feel like a little kid,” I said. “I can’t believe I’m still a virgin. God, that’s embarrassing.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Taylor replied. She yawned, rubbing her eyes with one fist. “I shouldn’t have had sex when I did. It was like, way before I was ready.”
We’d reached the corner where we usually parted ways, and reluctantly I left my friend and turned in the direction of home. I was over the moon about my date with Jordan, but now I was starting to feel nervous. What if he could tell how inexperienced I was? What if I didn’t please him?
Or worse – what if he didn’t like the way I looked naked?
By the time I got home, I was a bundle of nerves. Jenna was sitting at the table, looking over some papers.
“Hey,” Jenna said. “Are you coming to my graduation? It’s next Thursday,” she added. “Please?”
“Of course,” I said with a frown. “What on earth makes you think I’d miss something so important?”
Jenna gave me a saucy look and I glared at her.
“I just know you really like this guy, that’s all,” she said, shrugging innocently. “And if you want to bring him—”
“No,” I said sharply. “Definitely not. There’s no way the two of you are going to meet for a long time.”
Jenna smirked. “Why? Afraid I’ll steal him?”
I rolled my eyes. “No,” I said. “Afraid you’ll be an impossible brat and drive him away.”
“Oh, come on,” Jenna said. “You know I wouldn’t do that. I’m curious, you know – I’ve never met someone so rich before.”
“That’s exactly the kind of brattiness I’m talking about,” I said. Groaning, I sat down in a chair next to her. “What do you want for dinner?”
Jenna turned her attention back to the paperwork in front of her. I realized that they were forms from her school, with directions for mailing her diploma. A small surge of guilt washed over me and I bit my lip. Maybe I’m spending too much time away from my family, I thought. I should be the one filling those out, just like a parent would do.
“Pizza, I guess,” Jenna said. “Or maybe cheesesteaks?”
I laughed. “One of these days, you’re going to have to learn how to cook,” I said. “There’s leftover spaghetti in the fridge, what about that?”
“You’re going out for dinner,” Jenna said defensively. “Why can’t I have takeout, too?”
“Because we have a fridge full of food,” I said firmly. “You can make a sandwich or something – there’s some salami, and the good cheese you like.”
“I don’t know why I can’t start college now,” Jenna said crossly. “I already eat like a college student.”
I snorted. “Hey,” I said. “Don’t make me buy a bunch of ramen.”
Jenna looked annoyed. “So, when are you leaving?”
I glanced down at my watch. “In an hour or so. You sure you’ll be okay tonight?”
Jenna gave me a wry look. “Of course,” she said. “I am eighteen, after all.”
“I know, I know,” I said, shaking my head as I walked down the hall and into my room. For a moment, my thoughts were consumed with Jenna. It was true that she was legally an adult – but compared with how I’d been at eighteen, she was basically still a child. But as soon as I opened my closet, all thoughts of my sister were pushed to the side. I picked through my clothes until I found just what I was looking for – a flowy sundress made fro
m a gauzy material that seemed to shimmer in the light.
After shaving my legs in the bathroom sink, I got dressed and did my hair and makeup. I wanted to be pretty, but natural. After all, tonight was the night I’d finally be showing my real self to Jordan.
Jordan had suggested we meet at his condo for a few drinks before going out. I took a cab across the city, pressing my forehead to the window like a little kid. When we got to his neighborhood, I felt shocked. I’d known that Jordan was wealthy, but some of these buildings were unreal. It was like being in another world – a world I couldn’t believe managed to exist in the same city where I’d spent my whole life.
Jordan’s building was the grandest of them all. It was black marble with a touch of gold and chrome – almost like an Art Deco masterpiece from the nineteen-twenties.
Unsurprisingly, Jordan had the entire penthouse floor to himself. As I rode the elevator skyward, my heart began to beat faster and faster. This is really it, I thought nervously. I’m really about to sleep with Jordan for the first time!
Jordan met me at the elevator doors with a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses.
“These are beautiful,” I said softly as Jordan handed them over.
The Secret: A billionaire romance Page 6
