The Billionaire's Marriage Proposal (Billionaire Bachelors Series - Book 4)

by Melody Anne

  “I thought it was a dream,” she mumbled and her face turned bright red.

  “So you dream of me often?” he asked.

  “I need to get up, please let go,” she gasped. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her gently, melting her will-power to non-existent. He then released her and she slowly scooted away. It wasn’t an easy thing to do.

  “Can you please turn?” she asked. She needed to get out of the bed, but in no way wanted him to watch her walk away, naked.

  “Not on your life,” he told her. He sat up in the bed, the blanket riding dangerously low on his stomach. She could see the sexy trail of hair disappearing beneath the blanket. She could also see his obvious arousal pushing to get free of the blankets.

  She stayed for several moments, clutching the blanket tightly to her chest. She looked around the room and saw her clothing scattered on the floor. She couldn’t take the blankets because then he’d be sitting in the nude, and she didn’t think she’d have the will-power not to jump him.

  With her head held high she finally climbed from the bed, grabbed her clothes as quickly as possible and slipped into the bathroom. She could feel the aching in her body from the use of muscles she’d never used before. She felt wetness between her thighs, giving proof of what she’d done in the middle of the night.

  She looked into the mirror and was surprised by some slight bruising in a few spots on her body. She couldn’t believe she’d slept with her boss. She’d always thought women like that were tramps, and now she’d joined their ranks.

  She saw the inviting shower and decided she couldn’t dress without jumping in there first. She cringed as she spotted the evidence of her virginity wash away. She hoped he hadn’t noticed. How do you explain remaining a virgin so long? She’d wanted her first time to mean something, and then the years just quickly faded, and soon she didn’t even think about it.

  She started thinking about it a lot once she’d met Trenton. She shook her head to clear the thoughts. She couldn’t do anything about it, so there was no need to dwell on something she couldn’t change. She told herself she’d take a quick shower, but as the luxury jets sprayed down on her sore body she forgot about quickness and just enjoyed the massaging water.

  Jennifer didn’t know how long she stayed in there, but she never lost hot water and finally climbed from the oversized stall, feeling somewhat better. The heat had eased the achiness in her muscles and she felt clean once again. She hated to put on her dirty clothes, but she had no choice.

  She decided she’d walk out of the bathroom with as much dignity as she could muster, and insist on calling a cab. She didn’t want to spend any more time than she needed to with her boss. It would be best to simply get away as soon as possible so they could go back to a regular working environment.

  Of course, that was going to be difficult considering she’d never before seen a boss, or any co-workers for that matter, naked. She’d never writhed underneath any of them in pleasure. Just thinking about the lovemaking caused her to get wet again. Her traitorous body still wanted Trenton, even though her mind knew it wasn’t going to happen.

  She walked back into the bedroom, grateful he was out of the bed. She stared at the rumpled bedding and felt her cheeks heat again. She couldn’t believe she’d ever thought, even for a moment, that their love-making had been a dream.

  She’d never felt the kind of heat he’d brought her a few hours earlier in one of her dreams. Even thinking of how she’d felt had her ready to do it all over again. Her nipples pebbled and her core grew hot and pulsing. She decided to get out of there.

  She walked out the door and found herself in a large hallway. She saw it ended to her left so she turned to her right and followed it around a corner. She found a huge staircase and began her decent, where she found herself in a large foyer. She smelled coffee and walked in that direction.

  When she caught a whiff of bacon, her stomach growled. She looked around, grateful there was no one about. She was starving, but she’d get food later. She needed to find a phone and get the heck out of there.

  She stepped through a door and found an elderly woman standing over a stove. There was bacon, eggs, potatoes and a few other things cooking. Jennifer’s stomach rumbled so loud the woman turned with a smile.

  “Sounds as if you’re hungry,” she said. She began piling food on a plate and set it on the breakfast bar in front of Jennifer, and she lost all her resolve. A few extra minutes in the house couldn’t possibly hurt, and she didn’t believe in wasting food, so she may as well eat. Then she could do the walk of shame from the home.

  “Thank you,” she said and dug into the plate as if she hadn’t eaten in months, versus the night before. “This is so good,” she mumbled in between bites. The woman must have added some special spices because it wasn’t ordinary potatoes and eggs. The bacon was thick and crisp, just the way she liked and the biscuits practically melted in her mouth. Before she knew it, her plate was empty and she was groaning with an overfull belly.

  “I’m being so rude. My name is Jennifer and thank you so much for the food, it was spectacular,” Jennifer finally said.

  “You haven’t been rude at all. I’m Sandy, and it’s very nice to have someone enjoy my cooking. I tire of skinny little girls barely picking at what I prepare,” the woman said. Jennifer knew she wasn’t a typical female. She didn’t care if she put on an extra pound or two once in a while because she worked hard and exercised often and she knew it would fade eventually. She refused to become a typical size zero, socialite.

  “Well, it was delicious and I only wish I could stuff some more in, but then none of it would stay down,” Jennifer told her with a laugh. “Can you direct me to a phone, please?”

  “There’s one in the den, which is the first door on your left,” Sandy told her.

  “Thank you, it was great to meet you, Sandy, you’re an exceptional cook,” Jennifer told her before she headed toward the den. She had no idea Trenton was around the corner and heard the whole conversation.

  “What do you need a phone for?” he asked, causing her to drop the phone and nearly jump a mile in the air. Her heart was pounding as she turned to glare at him.

  “I’m calling a cab,” she finally said and turned to the phone again and began dialing information. She was outraged when Trenton grabbed the phone from her hand and hung it back up. “What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped.

  “You don’t need a cab. I told you last night I’d take you back out to the ranch for your car,” he told her.

  “I don’t wish to ride with you, so if you’ll kindly hand me back the phone, I’ll arrange my own transportation,” she told him in her most haughty voice.

  “You’ll ride with me. Now, quit acting as if you’re some kind of victim. You gave as good as you got and I don’t recall you telling me no last night,” he snapped.

  “I’m not acting like a victim, but I need to be very clear when I say it was a one-time thing. I have zero desire of hooking up with my boss or jumping on your lap every time you crook your finger,” she snapped back.

  They both glared at each other, standing mere inches apart, both fighting anger, passion, and a need to grab the other.

  “I can get sex any time I want. I don’t need to chase some woman who obviously plays hard to get. So don’t worry about me jumping you at the offices,” he finally snapped. Jennifer felt like she’d been slapped across the face.

  She knew he was a sexy male. Most women would be proud to be on his arm, but she wasn’t most women. She decided to ignore his statement. She didn’t like the tightening in her gut at the thought of him with another woman right after he’d been with her.

  “I’m done with this conversation,” she said and then turned to stomp out of the room. She figured hell with the phone call - she’d walk to the nearest pay phone. It wasn’t worth standing with him and fighting her own emotions, too.

  She heard him give a strangled sound about one second before she felt his h
and grab her arm. He spun her around, slamming her body into his. He was breathing heavily and his eyes were shooting daggers at her.

  “You’re such a frustrating woman. You don’t care how much it hurts you, as long as you get the last word in, you’ll jump from a cliff, just so the other person doesn’t have a chance to reply. You’ll learn quickly I’m not an ordinary guy, and I don’t take orders well, plus I really love a challenge,” he said, his lips only half an inch from her own.

  She could feel the heat of his body and that half inch may as well have been a mile. She wanted him beyond anything. She was shaking with need and by the triumph in his eyes he could tell exactly how she felt.

  The triumph quickly faded, though, and he closed the gap, giving them both what they wanted. His lips were not slow and seductive, they were urgent and filled with need. She responded with a passion that would’ve shocked her if she could think straight.

  Trenton released her just as quickly as he’d grabbed her and took several steps back. They were both breathing heavily as they stared at each other across the room. Neither of them was willing to back down.

  “Let’s go, I’ll take you to your car,” he finally said, then grabbed her arm and led her to the garage. Jennifer thought about fighting him, but decided not to. His expression was a bit frightening and she wasn’t willing to provoke him any further than she already had.

  The ride out to the ranch was silent. It took all of Jennifer’s will-power but she refused to look over at the man who invaded her thoughts as much as he invaded her space during the week. She didn’t know how she’d continue working for him, but she couldn’t let go of the job.

  They arrived at the ranch and she jumped from the car quickly and watched as Trenton drove away, spitting gravel in an immature peel out. She watched him leave and sighed to herself. She knew she was lying to herself by denying her attraction to him, but she couldn’t accept she’d want him. She didn’t want any man, but especially him.

  He was far too confident, good-looking, and arrogant for her taste. She preferred men who were kind, loving, and understanding. She certainly didn’t want to be with someone who would grab her and kiss her breathless without her permission. She’d just need to remind herself of that fact over and over again.

  She headed up the stairs and could hear the kids before she even knocked on the door. She smiled to herself, happy her niece had found some joy in life once again. She knocked on the door and waited for it to be answered.

  The next month at work flew by for Jennifer. She made sure she was never alone with Trenton for any length of time. She felt his eyes on her constantly and it was crumbling her wall of defenses, which she was so proud of having built up.

  She was making new friends, making her realize she could deal with the tension between her and Trenton. She didn’t want to give up her job. There were a couple of single parents who worked there, who’d been invaluable in giving her tips and ideas. She’d been thrust into parenthood, and though she wasn’t complaining, she knew she had a lot to learn.

  “Hey, Jennifer, a bunch of us our heading to a club tonight. Want to come with us?” one of her new friends, Tracy, asked.

  “That sounds perfect. Molly’s spending the night with a friend so I have the night free. Where do you want to meet?”

  “We’re going to the new club over on Second Street. Dress extra sluty,” Tracy said with a laugh. Jennifer blushed and Tracy gave a large wink before she left, laughing the entire way.

  Trenton was sitting in his office, seething. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind and she was planning on living it up at a club. He wanted to haul her into his office and remind her how good they were together. He managed to stay seated, just barely and pretended to get work done.

  At the end of the day, when he watched Jennifer walk out of the office with some of the other women, smiling and laughing, he made his decision to do some clubbing of his own.

  Trenton left the offices with such an angry expression on his face all his employees turned the opposite way, instead of daring to actually speak to him. He didn’t notice because all he had on his mind was one particular employee who was driving him nuts.

  Trenton got home and changed out of his suit into his favorite pair of jeans and t-shirt. He didn’t want to look like a wealthy man that night. He wanted to look like an everyday guy and prove to himself he’d still have women hanging off him. He didn’t need the attention of one stubborn woman.

  He drove to the club, which he’d never been to before, and though it was only ten in the evening, the club was already crowded more than he liked. He made his way to the bar and ordered a stiff drink. He had the feeling he’d need about twenty of them that night but could only have one. He needed to be able to drive later.

  He leaned against the bar to peruse the room and it didn’t take him long to find her, even in the crowded club. His gut clenched and he felt himself actually gripping the bar to keep from rushing onto the dance floor and ripping her from the arms of the guy she was with. The guy had her pulled tightly against him and her head was thrown back in laughter. He spun her out and quickly pulled her in again and Trenton wanted to rip the guy to shreds.

  Just as he was about to lose the battle with himself and rush out there, a blonde rubbed up against him, pressing her half exposed breasts into his side and giggling.

  “I’m so sorry,” the blonde said with another annoying giggle.

  “It’s not a problem,” he told her, though she was actually irritating him. What was the matter with him? A beautiful woman was throwing herself at him and he could care less. She was much more his type than Jennifer, but he wanted to push her aside and rush out to his assistant. Hell, he’d come to the club in the first place to prove he could find other women attractive.

  “Can I buy you a drink?” he offered and gave her his million dollar smile. She actually swooned from his full attention.

  “That sounds great, handsome,” she purred before rubbing even closer. He clenched his teeth and swore to at least try and flirt with the air-headed blonde.

  Jennifer gritted her teeth as the man, who had asked her to dance, pulled her in tightly against him again. He was gorgeous, with a body she was sure took many hours in a gym, and a smile that would send most women into total organ failure.

  Her friends had pushed her into dancing with him, when he’d asked, though she really hadn’t wanted to. The song seemed to never end and he was definitely placing all the signals he wanted to take the dance to the next level.

  He was cute and entertaining, but she had to fake her enthusiasm, because she felt absolutely nothing for him. She was terrified her boss had set the standard so high she’d no longer be attracted to anyone else. That wouldn’t work for her.

  She’d been with Trenton for over a month at the offices and he was constantly on her mind. She’d daydream about him and then he’d return to her in her dreams at night, as well.

  He consumed her thoughts and dreams in such a short amount of time. She did her best to ignore him and had done well at keeping things professional, but it was certainly causing her a lot of stress, and her body a lot of aching.

  The song finally ended, and with a smile, Jennifer pulled free from the man and headed toward her table of friends. He followed behind her and it took all her energy to remain nice, while still letting him know she wasn’t interested in anything more.

  “Thanks for the dance, sweetheart. I’d love to do it again. Can I buy you a drink?” he asked in what she assumed was his most seductive voice. It did nothing for her.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m here with my friends. Have a great night,” she told him and turned away, acting as if he didn’t exist. He must have left because a minute later Tracy looked at her like she was insane.

  “Oh my gosh, Jennifer, he was completely hot and you totally blew him off,” she said, almost accusingly.

  “I’m not interested in men like that, besides I didn’t come out tonight loo
king for a guy, I just want to relax and have some fun,” she told her friend with her best smile. She was trying to act as if she didn’t care.

  “You’re crazy, but okay,” Tracy said and then thankfully the conversation changed to other topics and the time started passing quickly. She danced a few more times with other men, who all made it perfectly clear they were looking to go home with someone, and they didn’t care who it was. She was regretting her choice of clothing.

  It was getting late and she’d drank a few too many margarita’s, as her latest dance partner swung her around the floor, she felt dizzy, and was having a harder time staving off his advances.

  “I need to sit down,” she tried to tell him.

  “You’re fine,” he said and pulled her tightly against him. There was a wall of people around her and she couldn’t untangle herself from his arms. She was starting to get a bit freaked out and was no longer pretending to be having a good time.

  “You need to release me, now - I want to go back to my table,” she told him in as firm a voice as she could manage. He ignored her, and his hands started exploring her body. She was close to tears, as she realized how women could be so easily violated out in the open. No one was paying the least bit of attention to her, or the situation she was in.

  She kept pushing him away, but it was to no affect. He was gripping her backside, and pulling her into his body. She felt dirty and violated and wanted to leave the club right away. Suddenly, the man let her go and flew backward with a shocked expression on his face. She looked up into the angry face of Trenton, shocked to see him there. She didn’t know what to say.

  “The lady said she wanted you to let her go, I suggest you leave, now,” Trenton said and the power in his voice must have scared the man because he left quickly, without another look back. She was so thankful for his interference she didn’t even question what he was doing there, or his high handed methods.