Resisting the Billionaire

by C. C. Snow

  “And you came back looking like you were best friends,” he countered.

  “And I went because he dragged me out of here!”

  “Then you were so taken with Dale Richards at the DataPoynt meeting. You were willing to go to bat for his company.”

  “Jake, I was going to bat for his employees who would be out of jobs!”

  His gaze drilled into mine. “His employees?”

  I huffed in exasperation. “Yes, those poor people who would be out of jobs because you refused to help them!”

  Groaning, he buried his face in my hair. “FUCK! Cora, you’re making me crazy!”

  I gasped in indignation. “I’m making you crazy? Ha!”

  His chuckle vibrated against me. He lifted his head. “You know, I wouldn’t be such a jealous bastard if you’d agree to date me. Exclusively.”

  I tried to scowl, but my laugh ruined it. “Your logic is convoluted and asinine.”

  He moved his body imperceptibly closer to me, his chest grazing against my breasts and his hard thighs bracketing my legs. My nipples hardened and heat flooded my sex.

  I gasped and pressed my back against the door, trying to create space between us. He immediately eliminated the gap, shifting his weight so that he pinned me against the door. His hips pushed against my lower body, not hiding his arousal from me. I could already feel the fog stealing into my mind.

  “Jake, we agreed this was a bad idea.” My voice was thready and weak.

  “You said this was a bad idea. I didn’t.” He nuzzled his nose into the sensitive spot below my ear.

  I swore I didn’t mean to tilt my head, but before I knew it, his lips were skimming along the length of my neck and a breathy whimper escaped my lips. Feeling drugged, my eyes dropped to half-mast. His tongue peeked out to flick at my skin, leaving hot spots as he trailed his lips to the point where my neck met the slope of my shoulder. One of his hands left the door and caressed my clavicle through the thin silk of my blouse. It slowly slid down to cup my breast, his fingers subtly kneading my soft flesh. I gasped as my nipple tightened painfully. His other hand clasped onto the curve of my hips and the incredible heat of his palm seared through the layers of my clothes, scalding my skin.

  Opening his mouth, he let his hot breath heat my skin before licking it with the flat of his tongue. Then he blew lightly on the wet patch. I shivered as goose bumps formed on my skin.

  My fingers formed into claws against the wooden door. I felt like every molecule in my body was melting. “Jake.”

  His name emerged as a moan and it seemed to set him off. He jerked his head up and captured my lips, tongue plunging deep into my mouth. His left hand gripped the back of my head to hold me immobile for his plundering. The taste of him was addictive and I welcomed the invasion, angling my head to get a tighter seal on his mouth. My hands clutched onto his biceps. I was intensely aware of his erection throbbing against my pelvis.

  A rough hand skimmed under my skirt, grazing the inside of my inner thigh.

  My eyes popped open in alarm and I made a vague sound of surprise. Jake broke the kiss and looked down at me, his eyes viridian. Without breaking eye contact, he moved his hand higher. Each inch was a slow seduction and I felt powerless to stop him.

  He reached the edge of my panties and his fingers grazed the lace trim. “Fuck, baby. You feel so hot.”

  Whatever I was going to say was lost in the heat of his mouth. He swallowed my gasp as his fingers slid underneath the damp panel. The pads of his fingers ran through my slick folds, barely teasing the entrance to my pussy. Back and forth. Back and forth.

  My hips pulsed, seeking a deeper contact. He answered by sliding the tips of two fingers into my channel. My feminine muscles closed tightly over the digits as they sunk in halfway.

  Desperate for air, I broke away, my breaths coming out in uneven pants. My vision glazed over, all my concentration focused on the thick fingers between my shaking thighs. The only thing that kept me standing was his hard bulk pressing me against the door.

  “Your pussy is so wet and tight. I knew you’d feel amazing. I can’t wait until you’re wrapped around my cock.” He pulled out an inch and pushed in two.

  The mewl that came out of my mouth was needy and hungry. “Jake, please!” Pride was subsumed under the clamoring in my body for satisfaction.

  His eyes burned through to the marrow of my bones. “Baby–”

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  We both froze.

  “Jake, are you in there? I’ve been waiting with Halpern for five minutes!”

  At the sound of Troy’s voice, I tensed.

  Jake’s forehead hit against the door with a loud thump. His breathing was a ragged as mine. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Cora and I need to finish up a memo.”

  “Alright. Hurry up!”

  Jake turned his head and whispered into my ear. “I’m sorry to leave you hanging baby, but I need to go.” He carefully pulled his fingers out of me and I moaned at the loss of fullness.

  The skin on his face pulled taut. His gaze held mine as he lifted his fingers into view. I flushed at the evidence of my arousal glistening on the tips. He slowly brought them to his mouth and sucked on my wetness.

  An involuntary groan rose from the back of my throat at the erotic sight of him tasting me.

  “Hmm… you taste sweet, just as I imagined.” His eyes darkened. “Fuck! I’ll never get my cock to behave in time for the meeting.”

  My gaze dropped and my mouth went dry. His erection was a hard column distending the placket of his pants.

  Abruptly, Jake spun away from me, his back stiff. “Baby, I need you to leave this office. One more look like that from you and I won’t give a damn about any meeting. I’d have you on the ground with my cock in your pussy in ten seconds flat.”

  What look?

  “Jake…” My brain was still fuzzy and I didn’t know what to do. My body urged me to stay.

  “Baby, please. Go!”

  I jumped, startled by the plea in his voice. My hand scrabbled for the doorknob and finally latched on. Without saying another word, I scampered out of the room and walked briskly to the bathroom. With every step, I was aware of how wet my folds were. My body was still throbbing in protest at being denied relief.

  The VP of Marketing, Marcia Goldstein, gave me a funny look as she passed me in the hallway.

  I lowered my head, letting my thick hair hide my red face, and ducked quickly into the bathroom. One look in the mirror and I knew why I got the strange look. There was no hiding my kiss-swollen lips and too bright eyes. The apples of my cheeks were fuschia pink. My nipples were visible beads through my blouse. I squeezed my eyes closed in shame.

  How did he turn me into this sex-crazed woman I didn’t recognize? When he threatened to take me on the floor, a part of me had screamed, “Yes! Take me now!”

  My only consolation was that Jake was just as affected. A small giggle escaped me as I remembered him begging me to leave. “At least I know he knows the word please,” I told my reflection.

  The door to one of the stalls opened, startling me. I thought the bathroom was empty and was glad I didn’t say anything revealing.

  A red-eyed Alana emerged and she stopped short at the sight of me. She walked to the sink and averted her gaze.

  I tried not to gape at her appearance. This was not the polished, haughty woman I was used to. To anyone on the streets, she would still look every inch the professional career woman, but I noticed the subtle differences. Her makeup failed to hide her pasty complexion. Her hair was slightly tousled– not in the deliberate sexy style some women wore, but in the I-forgot-to-comb-that-one-patch way. Her clothes were infinitesimally askew. But most telling of all were her eyes. She had recently had a good cry.

  Hoping I wouldn’t regret it, I tentatively asked, “Are you okay, Alana?”

  Staring down at her sudsy hands, she muttered, “Why would you care?”

  I stifled my sigh of exasperation and s
poke with restrained patience. “I’m not your enemy, Alana. I know you don’t like me and I don’t know why, but you look like you could use a friend right now. If you need to talk to someone...”

  She made an obnoxious scoffing sound.

  I almost gave up, but there was a wounded look in her eyes that pushed me to try one more time. “Sometimes it helps to talk over your problems with someone who isn’t personally involved.”

  She grabbed a paper towel to dry her hands and turned to me, her expression suspicious. “Why are you being so nice to me?” Her tone was belligerent.

  I lost it. “At this moment, I honestly don’t know! Because you’re a total bitch!”

  Both of us were shocked into silence by my outburst, but then Alana did the most unexpected thing. She threw back her head and laughed. Not the small, tittering laugh I’d heard from her when she flirted with some of the male executives, but a full-bodied, mouth-wide-open guffaw.

  I started to giggle along with her and soon both of us were bent over the sink, laughing uncontrollably. When we started to sober, we’d make eye contact and that would set us off again. Tears ran down my face and my stomach was starting to ache. I braced both of my hands on the porcelain rim, gasping for breath.

  The bathroom door opened and Troy’s assistant, Kayla Johnson, stared at us for a moment. “What’s so funny?”

  With a small smile on her lips, Alana walked to the door. “Nothing. Personal joke.” She looked directly at me. “Thanks, Cora. I think I’m going to be okay.”

  The door closed behind her and Kayla looked at me, chocolate brown eyes filled with awe. “How did you win her over?” She had been witness to Alana’s coldness toward me.

  Over the last month, Kayla and I had developed a casual friendship. Since the brothers’ schedules needed to be synced, we had to be in close contact. I really liked the African American woman. On more than one occasion, she had helped me navigate some of the stickier relationships among the executives. She had very little interest in gossip. As a busy mother of twin boys, her focus was on providing for her family and not on office politics.

  My brows furrowed in bafflement. “I honestly don’t know.”

  “Well, whatever you did, way to go, girl!” Kayla grinned and held up her palm.

  I slapped my hand against hers, distracted by the bizarre encounter. “I’d better get back to my desk. See you later.”

  My purse and the memo pad and pen I threw were placed neatly on my desk. It was a silent message telling me Jake expected me to continue working for him. And as satisfying as it was to tell him I quit, it was impractical. I needed the work and I enjoyed it immensely.

  I slouched in my chair and glared at the innocuous notebook as if it had been the source of my turmoil instead of a complicated, confusing billionaire who didn’t understand the word no.

  Well, moaning and writhing against him like a cat in heat was not exactly a resounding no, my annoying conscience pointed out.

  I dropped my forehead into my hands with a groan of self-disgust. It was patently obvious I had no resistance when it came to Jake Weston. My defenses were dangerously thin and the more time I spent with him, the more fragile they became. His confession about being jealous had turned me into a wobbling mass of jelly. I wasn’t proud of my reaction, but it felt thrilling for a man like Jake to desire me so much.

  It was only a matter of time before I gave into temptation and slept with him. I could envision the seams of my life unraveling after that.

  I waggled my head, shaking off my morbid thoughts. I had to do something to change my course or I’d be headed toward catastrophe.

  Chapter 11

  “Cora, we’re heading out to lunch and then to a site visit. Can you be ready in twenty minutes?”

  I looked up from the report I was finalizing for the bid to build a hotel in Dubai. It was amazing how widespread the company’s investments were. This was the second international project to come across my desk this week.

  “Um…” I hedged, wary of the determined look on Jake’s face.

  Since the hot and heavy session in his office last Thursday, I had resorted to a cowardly, but effective strategy: I avoided being alone with him.

  His busy schedule worked to my advantage since we were constantly in meetings or on the move. When he had a free block of time, I helpfully slotted in a conference call or two with somebody on the long list of people wanting his attention. People Jake didn’t want to talk to apparently because he’d glared at me balefully after he finished a call with a whiny government official from Springfield.

  “Why the hell did you accept a meeting with him?” Jake had demanded.

  I adopted my most innocent look. “He said he had been requesting to talk to you for months. Since you had the afternoon free…”

  “I wanted the afternoon free!”

  I shrugged, “Sorry. It won’t happen again!” I said, trying to sound repentant.

  Unfortunately, another appointment happened to slip onto his calendar. This time, I had the perfect excuse.

  “But you told me the other day you were looking for a new advertising agency. I thought it would be helpful to have them pitch you some ideas.”

  He narrowed his eyes, but gradually the displeasure cleared from his face. He leaned in very close. “I know what you’re doing,” he murmured softly, a light in his eyes.

  “Helping you out?” My voice was unnaturally high.

  His grin made me nervous. It was an I’m-raising-the-stakes grin.

  It put me on alert.

  When Jake had to go away for two days to New York, instead of feeling relieved, I missed him unbearably. It was the first business trip he had taken since I worked for him. The office felt empty and lifeless without his presence. I had to have a stern talk with myself about my contrariness, but the self-castigation was wasted because my heart had beat like a hummingbird’s when I saw him in the office again.

  Looking up at Jake now, I had the sinking sensation I had been outmaneuvered. I flipped through his calendar and smiled in relief when I saw his Friday afternoon appointments. “Um…I have you scheduled for an interview with Modern Architecture magazine.”

  He gave me a toothy smile. “Oh, didn’t I tell you? Troy will be doing that in my stead.” He stooped down and purred, “That also means you won’t be able to have lunch with my brother. Such a shame.”

  I dropped my gaze and fought the rush of blood to my face. Whenever Jake wanted to take me out to lunch, I claimed I had previous plans with Jamie or Kayla. Then on Monday, when neither of them was available, in desperation, I dragged Troy into my deception.

  The two brothers were walking out of Jake’s office when my boss stopped and asked me to go to lunch.

  “I promised to go out to lunch with Troy.” My eyes swung to Troy, silently begging him to corroborate my lie.

  He looked startled, but quickly recovered, saying smoothly, “Yes, she did. You’re too slow, bro.” He slapped Jake on his shoulder in mock commiseration.

  Jake’s gaze did not leave my face. “Yes, I seem to be.”

  My punishment had been an hour of Troy’s teasing. He wasn’t even subtle, outright speculating about the reasons why I was scared to have lunch with his brother. No amount of glaring and scolding would get him to stop. The end of lunch couldn’t have come sooner for me.

  Now, Jake wore the smug look of someone who had knocked out his opponent in the first round. “Oh, and did I mention that Kayla had to go to the interview with Troy? And your friend, Jamie, apparently got a bonus personal day today for doing such a good job.”

  I stared at him slack-jawed. What did you expect from a master strategist like him, Cora?

  I mentally waved the white flag of surrender. “I see. I didn’t realize there was a new incentive plan giving employees extra personal days.”

  “We have to keep morale high,” he pronounced in a grave tone.

  Don’t laugh, Cora! You’ll only encourage him to continue using Machi
avellian tactics. “You’re right, of course. And where are we going for the site visit?”

  “You’ll have to wait,” he said mysteriously. With his hands in his pants pockets, he swung around and sauntered into his office. He might as well have whistled.

  Twenty minutes later, I was climbing into Jake’s Bentley. “We’re not going to have Carl drive us?” I would have preferred to have another person in the car with us.

  “Nope.” He started the car and drove out of the garage.

  We crossed Michigan Avenue Bridge to River North and pulled into the underground garage of a towering apartment building.

  “Jake, what are we doing here?” I stepped out of the car and looked at the rows of luxury cars parked in the garage.

  He took my elbow. “We’re meeting with the property manager later in this building, but I thought we’d park here and walk to lunch.”

  It was a good plan since parking in downtown Chicago was a nightmare. We took the elevator up to the ground floor and walked out into the posh lobby.

  “Wow, this place is gorgeous.” I slowed down my pace to admire the beautiful Art Deco details. As magnificent as Chicago’s architecture was, this building was still a gem. “Jake, what is the meeting about? I would have liked to be better prepared.”

  “Hmm… it’s nothing too complicated. Now let’s get something to eat. I’m starving. How does Mexican sound?” He clasped my hand tightly and pulled me out into the bright sunlight.

  Spring in Chicago was mercurial. It could be bright and sunny one day and dank and gray the next. Today, it was nice and warm and everyone seemed to be in better spirits. I closed my eyes and lifted my face to enjoy the warmth of the sun. I was glad I had worn my cap-sleeved blouse and knee-length jersey skirt.

  A shadow fell over me and then I felt Jake’s lips touch mine gently, almost reverently. My eyes popped open and he pulled away, his mouth tugging on my upper lip.

  “You’re so beautiful, baby.”

  “Jake,” I sighed, forgetting why I was fighting him when he gazed at me with those gorgeous eyes.

  He kissed me again, this time lingering for a while, disregarding all the annoyed passersby who had to walk around us. There was none of the urgency I’d previously experienced. Breaking away, he smiled down at me. “I like this look on you. Soft and compliant.”