Not Her Billionaire (The Jack Kemble Duet Book 1)

by Sky Corgan

  “I told you that I was.”

  “And then you didn't return my calls or text messages.”

  Oh no, I was about to get lectured. “Things were complicated,” I said, trying to avoid a fight.

  “Things were complicated when you had me pick you up from the airport, too. If they're still complicated, then you should come back with me once I'm done with my business here.”

  “Jack and I have been working things out.”

  “In his dungeon?”

  My cheeks flushed at the mention of it. If Liam only knew all the dirty things I had done in Jack's dungeon. The thought sent a hungry shiver down below.

  “That's none of your business,” I answered finally.

  “It became my business when I picked you up from the airport—when you wound up in my bed.”

  My breath hitched, and I quickly looked around the cafe to make sure that no one had heard him.

  “You will never mention that again.” I glared at him. “That was a mistake. I should have never done that.”

  “Was kissing me a mistake too? Some whim of overwhelming feminine emotion?”

  “You're not being fair.”

  “I'm being more than fair.” The muscles in Liam's face tensed, and I knew that he was getting upset. “You're the one who isn't being fair. You can't just run into my arms and then leave me and not so much as return a phone call.”

  “I'm sorry, Liam. You don't understand the position I'm in.”

  “Oh, I understand it perfectly. You're in an arranged marriage that you're not happy with. You're about to sell off your entire life so that your greedy fucking family can get even more money that they don't need. They're selling you off to that pretentious prat like some expensive whore.”

  “You're out of line,” I raised my voice, taken back by the harshness of his words.

  “You don't love that guy. I can see it in your eyes.”

  Could he see it, I wondered, and it instantly made me doubt my feelings for Jack. Liam knew everything about me. He would know if my eyes were lying. But he could also just be saying that to gain an advantage.

  “Come home with me, Melita,” he continued. “You're supposed to be my wife, not his. We both know that. I've made you happy for almost twenty years. I promise I can continue to make you happy for as many years as either one of us has left.”

  My mind was racing with so many things that I couldn't even think to react when Liam dropped onto one knee in front of me. The entire café stared as he pulled a small black box from his pocket and opened it up to show me the glittering diamond ring inside.

  “Melita Rickard, will you marry me?” Liam asked, and I nearly choked on my own spit as I looked down upon him. This wasn't happening—couldn't be happening. Not here. Not now.

  “No.” I shook my head and then had to stomach the disappointment in his eyes.

  Almost as suddenly as he had knelt before me, Liam pulled himself up into the booth. The little black box disappeared back into his pocket as if it had all been a dream.

  “You know it's not that simple,” I told him.

  “It could have been.” Liam shrugged, avoiding my gaze.

  “Why are you making this so hard for me?” I buried my face in my hands, unable to look at him any longer.

  “Because I love you more than any man ever has, and more than any man ever will.” His voice was surprisingly calm for having just been rejected.

  “I need you to take me back,” I said, ignoring his romantic words.

  “Fine.”

  The trip back to Jack's parents' mansion was riddled with silence. Liam didn't even look at me as he extracted a card from his wallet and handed it to me. “This is where I'll be staying until Wednesday. Give me a call if you change your mind.”

  I watched him pull down their driveway, wondering if I would ever see him again. My response to his proposal had been firm, and I would not be changing my mind. Still, there was an aching in my heart with the knowledge that if I stuck to my decision, our friendship would be over. I knew that Liam was tired from me leading him on. This was his final stand.

  When Jack returned to his parents' mansion for the social gathering in the afternoon, the tension hadn't faded between us one bit. The ride over was painfully silent as he ignored me in lieu of listening to the radio. At the event, I felt alienated even further. Jack's mother showed me off to everyone while Jack mingled with the crowd. I couldn't think of a time when I ever felt so alone in a room full of people.

  I was surprised when we didn't follow his parents home afterward. Instead, Jack drove us straight to his mansion. I stared at the towering walls as the Lamborghini pulled to a stop and Jack got out of the driver's side to come open my door.

  “Thank you.” My voice was soft.

  Jack shed his clothing as he walked towards the dungeon, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for me to follow. I could only assume that was what Jack wanted—for me to follow him.

  Once inside, he turned to look at me. “Get undressed,” he commanded icily.

  It was the first time I felt uncomfortable disrobing in front of Jack. What Liam had said about me being an expensive whore played in my mind as the sleeves of my gown slid over my shoulders and onto the floor. Jack was looking at me like I was an object, something that he could own and dominate, not like I was a person. The knot in my stomach grew.

  “I sent him away,” I whispered, trying to knock some of the tension out of the air.

  “Don't speak unless you're spoken to,” he ordered in a more authoritative manner than I had ever heard before.

  Displeased with how slowly I was undressing, Jack came to me, practically ripping my clothing off in jerking motions. For the first time, I was frightened of him. There was no gentleness in his touch, no kindness to his words, only anger.

  “Jack, please calm down,” I begged.

  He grabbed one of my nipples, twisting it to the point that I let out a cry of pain. Then he tangled his fingers in my hair, pulling me to him so that his face was only inches away. “If you're going to keep being disobedient, then I'm going to have to punish you.” He threw me to the floor, and I gasped as my fear of him grew ten fold. “You knew I didn't want you to go with him, but you went anyway. You disrespected me.”

  “I told you I had to go.” I turned back to him with venom on my lips.

  He pulled me to my feet, shaking me before I had even gained my footing. “Do you want this to work, Melita? Do you?”

  Slap! It had happened so fast that I could hardly believe my own actions. In an instant, I was gathering up my clothes and running out the door, leaving Jack standing there holding his face in shock.

  I locked myself in the guest bathroom, pulling my dress back on while I dialed Liam's cell number. Fear and adrenaline coursed through my veins as I put on only what I needed to make it out of the house without getting a public indecency violation. No bra. No underwear. Just the dress.

  “Come get me, now!” I told Liam. Then I rattled off the address and hung up, wanting to get out of Jack's mansion as quickly as possible.

  When I opened the door, my breath hitched as I saw Jack standing there, his eyes full of remorse. “Melita, I'm sorry.”

  I brushed past him, heading down the hall towards the front door. Jack gave chase, but he didn't lay a hand on me.

  “I got a bit out of control. I was angry. I'm sorry. Please forgive me,” he begged.

  There was nothing left to say. Whether he had acted out of anger or just gotten too far into his dominant character, I didn't care.

  “Melita, stop,” Jack commanded, but I wasn't listening.

  “Goodbye, Jack.” I turned to him for a moment before disappearing out the front door. Thankfully, he didn't follow me, perhaps knowing that I needed space to think.

  I walked barefoot to the end of the driveway to wait for Liam, wondering if Jack realized the grave mistake he had just made. His foolish actions had once more pushed me into Liam's arms, and this time, I wasn't s
ure if I would return to him.

  Liam had a concerned look on his face as I stepped into his rental car. I must have looked a mess, I realized, thinking about how my dress was ripped and my hair was tangled from Jack's rough actions.

  “Did he hurt you?” were the first words from Liam's mouth.

  “No.”

  “Because if he did, I'll go beat his pretentious ass into a bloody pump. I don't give a shit who he thinks he is.”

  “Just drive,” I told him, trying to keep the tears at bay.

  We pulled into the parking lot of the Broadway Hotel, and Liam escorted me up to his room where he sat me down on the bed, sitting beside me and taking my hand into his. “Now, tell me what happened.”

  “Jack was mad at me because I met you for lunch,” I said between sniffles. “He ignored me all afternoon. He was just so cold,” I purposely omitted the part about him jostling me around in the dungeon, and I knew Liam could tell I was hiding something, though he thankfully didn't press me about it.

  “I'm sorry, sweetie.” Liam pulled me into his arms, holding me while I sobbed uncontrollably. His hands were soothing, smoothing out the tangles in my hair as they petted over me. I listened to his heartbeat. It was faster than normal, but still steady and familiar. In his strong arms, I felt like nothing could harm me.

  When I pulled away finally, there was a different look in Liam's eyes. He caressed my cheek, moving loose tendrils of hair from my face, and I didn't move when he leaned in to kiss me, though I didn't return the affection either. Liam's lips were soft and gentle against mine, a world of difference from the harshness I had felt all afternoon. Despite myself, I allowed his kisses to overtake me, demanding my reciprocation and carrying me off to heaven.

  He pushed the straps of my gown down over my shoulders, and I was reminded of Jack's touch. I was far removed from Jack now, though, being held by careful hands—loving hands.

  The dress slipped down over my breasts, exposing them to Liam's eyes for the first time. Instead of gaping at them in wonder, he looked at me as if he had seen them a thousand times before, more interested in my lips and my eyes than the perversions of my body.

  “Oh Liam,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck only to be met with fluttering kisses across my collarbone.

  He laid me on the bed, pulling my dress down the rest of the way until I was naked beneath him. My heart pounded as I watched him unbutton his shirt. Liam was the definition of masculinity, heavily muscled and gruff looking with his long dirty blonde hair and dark chin stubble.

  It was as if my eyes were seeing him for the first time, not as the boy who had been my best friend growing up, but as the man who loved me. The thought caused warm feelings inside my heart, and darker yearnings between my thighs. I realized at that moment that I wanted him more than anything in the world—would sacrifice everything to have him, if only for one night.

  My eyes flitted down to Liam's cock as he shed his slacks and boxers, and I couldn't suppress a lecherous grin as I realized that he had been right about being bigger than Jack. Liam was larger, in all areas.

  He glided effortlessly between my legs, demanding me to part my thighs so that he could lay between them while lavishing affection upon me. I moaned as his lips covered every inch of my neck, then worked their way down to my breasts.

  His touch was incredibly loving, all about pleasing me. I ran my fingers through his long silky hair while he sucked and teased my nipples. My muscles down below fired off deliciously from the stimulation, begging for more.

  One of his hands slipped between my legs, and he gently fingered my pussy, probing slowly. I clenched around the finger, giving him a taste of what was to come.

  He pulled out, inching himself up as he forced my leg around his hip. My breath hitched as I felt the tip of his dick pressing against my opening, forcing its way inside.

  “Oh,” I groaned as he filled my passageway, spreading me wider than ever before.

  “I love you so much,” Liam breathed lustily.

  My hands wrapped around his broad shoulders when he began thrusting, and I dug my nails into hard muscle as he took me with slow passionate strides. It felt like heaven lying beneath Liam's protective body, being pleasured by his massive cock.

  “Oh God, Liam,” I cried out, arching my back and bucking my hips up into him.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “No. It feels amazing. Don't stop.”

  He paused, gently moving my arms away from his back. At first, I thought I might be hurting him, but then he curled his fingers into mine, holding my hands above my head as he leaned in to kiss me and thrust home.

  Soon, Liam's breathing was ragged, and he was forced to pull away from my lips. I whispered pleasured encouragements into his ear as he picked up the pace. The friction from Liam's love-making quickly drove me over the edge, and I squeezed myself around him as my orgasm played out.

  “Oh yes,” I whispered.

  Within seconds, he was pulling out, panting as he let loose onto my stomach. I watched Liam's abs contract and relax as he came in spurts.

  “Are you alright?” he asked when he was finished, and I had to grin at his overbearing concern.

  “I'm better than alright,” I replied, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms.

  “Sorry about that. It happened—”

  “Shh. Come here.” I beckoned to him, not caring about anything but having him by my side.

  Liam smiled, easing onto the bed beside me and pulling me into his arms, causing the mess he had made to run down between us. I cuddled up against his chest, feeling more fulfilled than I ever had after sex.

  “I will marry you,” I said, and I could distinctly hear his heart skip a beat in reaction. His arm squeezed me tighter.

  “Your parents are going to be furious.”

  “You care about that now?” I laughed incredulously.

  “No, but I'm sure that you do.” He remained calm, running his fingers through my hair.

  “I only care about being happy right now.”

  “Are you happy?”

  “Happier than I've ever been in this wretched city.”

  “Our wedding probably won't be as extravagant as you'd like. No ice swans or pony rides.” I could hear the grin in his voice.

  “As long as you're there, that's all that I need.”

  I realized that now. All the money in the world could buy a lot of things, but it couldn't buy love. And, in the end, that's all that I needed to get me through life. My one true love.

  To further support this author, please post a review after you finish reading this book.

  Sky Corgan is the USA Today bestselling author of Bully. She lives in Texas where the sun is hot and the men are hotter. When she's not typing away at her next steamy romance novel, she enjoys hanging out with friends and attending kinky BDSM clubs. Many of the events in her books are based on things that actually happened, and she greatly fancies infusing real life with fantasy.

  Sign up for her mailing list and find out about her latest releases, giveaways, and more. Plus, get a FREE book! Click here!

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  ALSO BY SKY CORGAN

  Back to the Heart

  Bully

  Dirty Prince

  Dirty Promotion

  His Indecent Duet

  His Possession

  Love Games

  Mixed Up

  Playing Dom

  Primal

  Resisting the Billionaire

  Revenge Games

  Se7en

  Sold Innocence

  Strife

  The Arrangement: Gabe

  The Billionaires Club

  The Snowman

  Torn

  Two Much for You

  Unmatchable

  Wrong or Write

  Working for The Billionaires Club

  VirginsforSale.com

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nbsp; Bonus Excerpt from Resisting the Billionaire

  I needed a job, and it didn't matter where. Going home everyday was like walking into a never-ending nagfest thanks to my portion of the rent being overdue. Of course, I couldn't blame my roommate for being mad. We had gone through this time and time again. I'd get a job, screw something up, and be back out looking for another one within a few weeks. More often than not, I'd barely have scrounged up enough money for my portion of the rent.

  “I don't understand why you can't just stick with one thing,” Mandy complained. She'd been my roommate for the past two years, but I was beginning to fear that arrangement was coming to a close. I could see the weariness on her pale face, the same look I'd seen on my previous roommate's face before she gave me the boot in lieu of a more stable friend. It hurt to think the same thing might happen again, but I really didn't know what to do about it. “If jobs were supposed to be fun, they wouldn't call it a job. They'd call it happy eight hours of the day,” Mandy continued.

  “I know,” I sighed, resting my head between my arms on the table, so I wouldn't have to look at the disappointment on her face anymore.

  “I don't know how much longer my Dad is going to help flip for your part of the rent. He's getting really agitated with this whole thing.”

  “I just need a little more time.”

  “Where all did you go today?”

  Now the interrogations began. I knew what she was getting at. Mandy thought I really wasn't looking for a job, that while she went to school and work, I moped around the house or went out with friends. She'd caught me lying before. It was an isolated incident where I had gotten fed up with the search and decided to go have a beer with our friend Eric instead. Eric had paid, so I couldn't see what the big deal was. Besides, I had needed a break. Job hunting is exhausting.

  I groaned, feeling my anxiety levels rising. To keep the peace, I needed to keep my cool. If Mandy kicked me out, I'd be screwed. I wasn't on good terms with my parents, and none of our other friends were dumb enough to room with me. None of them, except for Eric.