Evergreen: An Alpha Billionaire Romance

by Michelle Love

  Maximo was watching her, a grin on his face. ‘I know what you’re thinking, but I meant it when I said I don’t play games. You Americans always say that, but hardly any of you mean it.’

  He sipped his scotch thoughtfully as Clem struggled to find the words. ‘You are the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.’

  Maximo laughed. ‘Probably.’ He locked that intense grin gaze on her. ‘But I’m not a liar. I want to take you to bed, Clementine Saffran. I want to run my tongue over every inch of your skin, taste your cunt, make you come. I want to be so deep inside you that you’ll scream my name and beg me not to stop.’

  Jesus. Clem’s could feel herself getting wet at his words, and for a second she considered how nice a night of casual sex would be.

  Maximo got up. ‘If you decide to join me, come with me now. Nothing will piss these women off more than if you leave with me. We both get what we want.’

  Clem looked up at him, her expression blank. ‘Do you always get what you want?’

  His smile was wide, anticipating her surrender. ‘Always.’

  Clem stood slowly, smoothing down her dress. Even in heels she only came to his shoulder and had to crane to look up at him. She stood on tiptoes so that her mouth was almost on his. He smelled wonderful too, soap and cologne. She smiled softly, her lips a centimeter from his.

  ‘Not this time you don’t,’ she whispered and turned on her heel and walked away from him.

  At home, later, she laid in bed and smiled. That was one of the most satisfying moments of my life, she thought, but something inside made her gut twist a little. Regret. She had no doubt that Maximo Neri would have made a great rebound lover, would have made a great lover, period. There was something so practiced in his manner, so refined. Which was why he was dangerous. Too much temptation. After the divorce from Luca had been finalized in the morning, she wanted nothing to do with romance for a good long time. He wasn’t offering romance, stupid; he was offering a good hard fuck. Clem pushed the thought away and tried to go to sleep.

  In the morning, she met with Luca and the lawyers. Then an hour later, David Azano went on a shooting spree at her daughter Bree’s college and Clem’s world fell apart.

  Snoqualmie (two months later…)

  Clem could barely breathe. She stared at the laptop’s screen until all the images on it blurred together. Luca and Emory Grace. There was no mistaking either of them. Emory straddling Luca, fucking him, her beautiful body arched in ecstasy. Luca’s look of absolute love as he made love to Emory; the couple laughing and joking as they walked along the beach.

  God. Clem squeezed her eyes shut. How the hell? Luca had never even met Emory until after the shooting when she’d been so badly injured saving Bree’s life. How was Clem supposed to feel now? The woman who rescued Bree from certain death was now fucking the man Clem had thought was the love of her life.

  Her chest felt so tight. She dragged a few labored breaths in before the tears came. Hot and silent, they coursed down her cheeks as she heard Bree calling out to her.

  As her daughter burst into the kitchen, Clem reached out for her, and Bree went into her arms.

  ‘Mom? Mom, are you okay?’

  Clem shook her head, and Bree hugged her tightly. ‘I’m so sorry, Mom.’

  ‘Did you know?’

  Bree shook her head, and Clem believed her but could see she was conflicted. She knew Bree loved Emory.

  ‘Mom…I encouraged them getting together. I meant it half as a joke because I could see how well they got along. I swear I didn’t know they’d actually started…’ Bree looked desolate. ‘Mom, I’m so sorry.’

  Clem hugged her. ‘You did nothing wrong.’

  Bree rubbed her face. Her dark eyes and hair were so much like Luca’s that Clem had only ever seen her husband’s features in her tomboyish daughter. ‘Mom…I can’t believe Dad didn’t say anything. This isn’t okay.’

  She sighed. ‘Look, I need to use the bathroom, but when I come back, we’ll distract ourselves, yes? Movie and snacks?’

  Clem smiled and nodded. She sat alone trying to pull herself together. Bree’s phone rang and Clem picked it up. Luca. A flash of anger ran through her, and she answered it, letting all of her hurt and rage flood out before hanging up on her ex-husband. She had to admit it made her feel better.

  Bree managed to distract her enough while they watched the movie that by the time Bree left to meet some friends, Clem felt more relaxed, more resigned. She took a long soak in the tub and was just about to go to bed when there was a knock at the door.

  She glanced at the clock. Ten p.m. She checked the door was chained before she answered it. Outside a man in a chauffeur’s cap nodded to her pleasantly. ‘Ma’am. Apologies for the lateness of the hour. My employer wishes you to have this.’ He had a very proper English accent. Clem took the envelope from him and opened it.

  Hotel Sorrento, one hour. Maximo.

  Clem stared at the message. The arrogance of that damn Italian…opportunistic to say the least. She tapped the card against her palm for a second then had it back to the chauffeur.

  Tell him to go to hell. ‘Give me five minutes to get dressed,’ she said and closed the door.

  Seattle

  Maximo Neri read the test message from his driver and grinned. On our way, boss. Hughes.

  So, Clementine Saffran was coming to see him. Maximo wasn’t a stupid man; he knew she was probably coming here to give him a piece of her mind. It had been on a whim – when he saw the pictures of Luca Saffran screwing that beautiful young teacher, he hadn’t hesitated in using it to take advantage. Because he’d wanted Clementine Saffran since way before she even knew he existed.

  It had been at a fashion show in Milan a few years back when Maximo Neri had first laid eyes on Clem Saffran. It had been one of the times his then-girlfriend Valeria had been able to persuade him to go to one of the designer shows. He loathed the theater of it all, the publicity. He was in the front row, of course, squeezed between Valeria and some American stylist who looked like she needed more than a sandwich in her life. He’d glanced around at the other luminaries who were granted the largesse of being on the front row. Actresses, actors (Maximo would never understand why a man would attend a woman’s fashion show voluntarily), magazine editors. He blew out his cheeks, and Valeria nudged him, looking annoyed. ‘At least pretend to be interested. There’s press here.’

  Maximo glowered, and Valeria gave a huff of annoyance and turned away. Max rubbed his head and glanced at his watch. He supposed he could make an effort if it kept Valeria happy – and not sniffing around his business. He was pretty sure she knew about his mistress in Naples, the sister of an old friend- if she made it public, it might not affect him, but it would affect the girl and Maximo didn’t wish that on her. He should never have started up with her in the first place, but there had been that night, Valeria was withholding sex and the girl, Paulina, had harbored a crush on Max since she was a child. What was a man to do?

  Then his eyes had fixed on the stunning redhead with the sad eyes. She was sitting directly across from him, the other side of the runway, and her stillness, fragility, and grace took his breath away.

  He’d made inquiries. Clementine Saffran (nee Fordham). Wife of billionaire Luca Saffran and a trust fund baby in her own right. Married for twenty years, straight out of Harvard, one teenage daughter. Maximo had met Luca Saffran on many occasions and liked the man very much. He was kind, thoughtful, quiet – and like Max, loathed publicity. Max wondered if Clementine resented Luca for that, the way Valeria resented Max.

  Still…Clementine Saffran. It was okay. He could wait.

  He could play the long game.

  And now she was here, on her way up in the elevator. Maximo pulled his tie down, opened the top button of his collar. As the elevator door opened to the foyer he heard her voice, her heels clipping on the marble. A soft knock, then Hughes opened the door for her, before withdrawing discreetly.

  Clementine stared at
him but said nothing. Max popped the champagne he’d had on ice and poured two flutes, also staying silent. He walked slowly to her and handed her the glass. She sipped the drink, and he could see her hands trembling. After a moment, gazing at each other, he took both of the glasses and set them down on the table. He reached for her, and she went into his arms as if it were the most natural thing to do in the world. His lips fixed onto hers, and as they kissed, he heard her moan softly and smiled.

  ‘Are you mine, Clementine?’ He murmured, tracing the outline of her jaw with his mouth. She nodded, and he swept her up into his arms and took her to his bedroom.

  Clem lost herself in the sensations that this man was bringing out in her. Her need for him grew wild, like an animal, as he stripped her to find her naked under her dress. A feral growl from the back of his throat made her senses whirl, and he dropped to his knees, hooking one of her legs over his shoulder as his mouth found her sex. As his teeth grazed her clitoris and his tongue delved deep into her cunt, she tangled her fingers in his dark, long curls and breathed in his scent of cologne and soap.

  God, his tongue…it lashed around the sensitive cluster of nerve endings in her clit and sent her wild. The fact that she was nude while he was still fully dressed was a turn on that she’d never expected she would feel. She felt vulnerable in his arms, a lost thing to be pleasured, to be adored. Jesus, she felt an orgasm building already, his face buried in her sex, the animalistic growls she heard from him sending her over the edge. As she came, her legs wobbled and gave way, and then they were on the floor, Max smiling down at her. She reached for his shirt, eager now to see him, all of him. When he was naked, Clem sucked in a breath. His body was broad, well-muscled, as elegant as he was. His cock, already hard, stood proud against his belly and she took the wide crest into her mouth, trailing her tongue around the sensitive head, hearing his sharp intake of breath. She stroked the long shaft of it, feeling the silky soft skin over the hardness of him.

  He pulled away before he came and pressed her legs wide apart, making her hips burn but she couldn’t have cared less; Maximo launched his huge cock into her, and she moaned loudly at the feel of him inside her, filling her, plowing her deep. Her legs curled around his slim hips, her mouth open in a gasp as he buried his face in her neck, kissing, biting, murmuring her name, again and again, his accent making her name almost musical.

  Clementine lost herself as they fucked, throwing every inhibition away. Maximo was a rough lover, making her come then not letting her rest before he took her again in every position, even winding his necktie around her wrists at one point before going down on her. leaving her panting and shivering.

  Clem looked up at this glorious man above her and, even though her brain told her he was trouble, her body didn’t care. She didn’t care.

  He was just what she needed, right then, at that moment…

  Portland

  Zea Azano opened her eyes slowly. She’d been deeply asleep, but the floorboards in her kitchenette were loose and when they rattled her eyes flew open, and she caught her breath.

  Squeak.

  Shit. There was someone in the house. Quietly she got up and went to the bedroom door. Sure enough, there was someone in the shadows, creeping around. A year ago, Zea might have screamed, might have panicked but now, after all, she had been through…she carefully hoisted a glass vase into her hand and crept up behind the intruder. At the last moment, he turned and saw her and as she brought the vase down, he ducked away. The vase smashed against the intruder’s forearm, and he gave a small ‘oof’ as a desperate Zea rammed her head into his stomach. He picked her up easily and threw her across the room. She crashed into her coffee table, groaning as her body screamed with the impact. She expected him to come after her, kill her but, astonished; she watched him walk quickly to the door and leave. She scrambled up, slamming the door behind him, shooting the deadlocks. How the hell did he get in? And what had he wanted?

  Zea caught her breath, starting to tremble now the adrenaline rush was passing. Should she call the police? If she did, the press might get involved, and her cover would be blown.

  But, hell, she didn’t want to be alone, and there was only one person she could think of to call, one person who she would feel safe with.

  Jared.

  Emory Dutta, formerly Mrs. Emory Grace, stared out at the inky Seattle night. She loved this city but couldn’t help yearning for the little cottage she’d moved into at the college after she’d finally left Ray. It had been a couple of hours since Bree had left and now Emory heard Luca arrive home. She greeted him with a kiss.

  Luca smoothed her hair away from her face. ‘You look more relaxed. It’s good to see.’

  ‘How about you? How was your day?’

  He rolled his eyes but smiled. ‘I’m seriously thinking of stepping back, leaving the guys to run the place. They virtually do anyway. Take you away, a trip around the world maybe.’

  She half-smiled. ‘Baby, I hope to go back to work soon.’

  Luca grinned. ‘Of course, which reminds me…today we arranged for the best security system on offer to be installed at the college. Courtesy of SaffraPharm. Dedicated to the bravest woman, I know.’ He kissed her again, smiling at her surprise. He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. ‘I love you, Em.’

  Her eyes widened with surprise and joy. ‘I love you too, big guy,’ but then she got choked up, and he chuckled.

  ‘Took me by surprise too. I’ve wanted to say it for a while, but I didn’t want to scare you off or have you think I was saying it because of what you did for my daughter. Obviously, I’ll be forever grateful, but that’s not what this is. I love you, Emory, for your mind, your humor, your smokin’ hot body.’

  She burst out laughing. ‘Oh, and you were so close to being Prince Charming, but you had to go make it dirty.’ Luca grinned, hugging her tightly.

  ‘Listen, I’m starving. I know this little burger joint – gourmet burgers, of course – what do you say?’

  ‘Meat, carbs and greasy shit? I’m in,’ she smiled but stopped him. ‘Luca…before we go…Bree came by earlier.’

  Luca’s smile faded. ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘Oh, she’s fine, baby, don’t worry. She says she’s mad at you but not because we’re together. Just because, I guess, Clem was hurt. But here’s the thing? She says she’ll call you soon. It’s not irretrievable. She said to say she loves you.’

  Luca nodded but stayed silent, and Emory saw a muscle flex in his jaw.

  ‘Luca, are you mad you’re hearing this from me? Instead of from Bree directly?’

  He shook his head. ‘No, sweetheart, I’m just processing. Well, I guess that’s good news.’

  Emory slid her arms around his waist. ‘It’s great news.’

  He smiled down at her. ‘Okay. Okay, I’m going to hop in the shower and then we’ll go out.’

  Emory glanced at the clock. ‘It’s nearly midnight, are you sure they’ll be open?’

  He grinned. ‘Oh, I’m sure.’

  ***

  Clementine was coming down from her fifth orgasm of the night. Max, grinning down at her, pulled out slowly and rolled onto his back next to her.

  They both lay, catching their breath. ‘Well,’ he said after a beat, ‘hello.’

  Clem laughed. She felt as if her entire body had been uncoiled, had been freed from the tension that had plagued her of late. This man was incredible. He never seemed to tire and when he was inside her…wow. She loved the way his size made her feel so thoroughly fucked. She looked over at him. He had dark shadows under his green eyes, but they fit with his personality; elegance and sensuality mixed with that arrogance, that machismo. She would never tell him so, but she would let him do anything to her that he wanted…anything.

  He met her gaze and began to smile. ‘Well, that was a night to remember. Tell me, Clementine, why did you accept my invitation? Was it merely a revenge fuck? I saw the pictures of your ex-husband and his new flame. It’s okay if it was
– I’m happy to be of help.’

  All of this was said with such an infectious grin, that Clem couldn’t help but smile. ‘Kind of. Also, I really wanted to check out if you were as good as you obviously think you are.’

  ‘And what was your final judgment?’ She loved the way he drawled his words, his warm, sensual voice making her sex quiver.

  ‘So far…acceptable.’ She tried to hide a grin. How he took her joke would tell her whether this man was worth any more than one night of her life.

  He laughed. Loudly. The merriment in his face told her everything she needed to know. ‘Well then,’ he said, moving his body on top of hers again, ‘I’d better get to work.’

  Portland

  ‘Zea? It’s me.’

  She opened the door and grinned wryly at Jared. He looked as if he’d dressed in a hurry, sweatshirt, and jeans; hair mussed up. ‘Jared, I’m so sorry to call you.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, we’re family,’ he stepped into the room and pulled her into a hug. ‘Are you okay? Did he hurt you?’

  Uncomfortable with the new intimacy, Zea pulled away, smiling at him to soften the slight. ‘Not really, just some bruises. I think I did him more damage.’ She’d tidied up since the attack, on edge, unable to rest. ‘I’m sorry, Jared, it’s just…you know who I am, who David was and I thought maybe…maybe it was someone from the school, a parent, wanting revenge.’

  She was babbling now, and he led her to the couch and sat her down. ‘Zea, breathe. Take a minute.’