“Why don’t you tell me about your family,” she suggested.
He described his parents, and she scribbled some notes.
“Your mother’s not harassing you to get married and give her grandchildren then?” she asked glumly. When he shook his head, Geena sighed. “You’re lucky. My mother’s so desperate she even suggested I get back with my ex, the man who dumped me for his secretary.” She wrinkled her nose. “I mean, who even has a secretary these days? When he told me he was leaving me for her, all I could think of was how much it felt like a really bad episode of Mad Men.”
Even as the words came out, she realized that although she’d meant to sound light-hearted, some of the hurt she’d felt had leaked into her voice. Why was she always the one who got dumped? Justin had said she was too ‘out-there’ for him in a tone that had made her feel like a freak. Add in the way their mother always told her she should try to be more like Ally, and was it any wonder she struggled with feeling insecure occasionally? When was it going to be Geena’s turn to shine?
Damien reached across the table to take her free hand and give it a squeeze. “His loss.”
She squeezed back, then let go so she could scribble more notes. “What about you? Do you date a lot?”
“Is that question for the article?”
“Definitely. It’s the kind of stuff people want to know.” True enough but mostly she was asking because she wanted to know. Or maybe she didn’t. Damien was a gorgeous billionaire, for heaven’s sake. He’d hardly be hard up for dates. The thought made her swallow hard. Why had he been so insistent that he didn’t want this — whatever it was between them — to turn into anything more serious? Was it because she wasn’t as appealing as the other women he’d dated?
Her hand crept up to her hair. Stupid. It was probably because she’d never fit into his world. Imagine if he turned up at a fancy party with her on his arm. The society-types he no doubt hung out with would die of shock.
“I prefer to keep my private life out of it. Anyway I’m a little tired of answering questions. Let’s try something different.”
She frowned. “But there are still a few things I want to ask.”
He picked up the remote controller, and she felt a surge of anticipation as he studied it. Then he pushed the button.
She jumped as a vibration thrummed in her crotch. The device gave off a low hum, but the noise of conversations and cutlery in the restaurant meant nobody else should be able to hear it. At first it felt strange and a little uncomfortable, but after a few moments an incredible sensation started between her legs.
“Holy crap,” she gasped.
“Good?”
Instead of replying, she dropped her pen so she could put both hands on her thighs and squeeze. The device was centered over her clit, and the vibrations felt incredible.
“That’s level one.” His lips twitched with satisfaction. “Now it’s my turn to ask the questions.”
What? She couldn’t possibly concentrate on anything but what was going on under her dress.
“This guy you used to date. How serious was it?”
“Um.” She couldn’t think. “I don’t know.”
“That’s your final answer?” His finger hovered over the buttons on the remote controller.
Concentrate, Geena. “Um…”
He shook his head. “Too late. Level two.”
The vibrations intensified. Geena bit her lip to stop a moan and closed her eyes to let the sensations wash over her.
“Open your eyes.” His voice was low but insistent, and she obeyed at once. “Keep looking at me.”
It took an effort to focus on him, but once she was caught in his gaze, she couldn’t look away. His dark eyes were filled with lust, and his face was transformed. Instead of his usual hard stare, she thought she saw a wistful vulnerability. A man who wanted to love, but wasn’t sure if he could. Was it just wishful thinking? Or was he looking at her with real longing? If only this moment could last forever.
She yearned to reach out and touch him but her fingers were digging into her thighs for dear life. Holy crap, it felt incredible.
Damien leaned forward, as though he wanted to kiss her. Was he as turned on as she was? Not possible. She was in serious danger of having an orgasm in the middle of a crowded restaurant, and staring into his eyes while the feeling built was the sexiest, most intimate experience she’d ever had. Her passion had to be showing, nakedly obvious, on her face. She felt both vulnerable and safe, locked into his gaze as though it were a lifeline. They were in their own cocoon of isolation, and as long as she stayed focused on him, nobody else existed.
“Tell me how it feels,” he said.
She tried to answer, but all that came out was a moan. She could barely form thoughts, let alone words. She bit her lip again, harder this time, so the moaning didn’t grow to an embarrassing level.
“I’m so fucking hard right now,” he growled. “So hard it hurts.”
That only made her arousal stronger. She wished she could undo his pants and slide onto him. But the fact that she couldn’t, that he would have to go unsatisfied… that almost made it hotter. After this he’d be so desperate for her that by the time they finally got home he’d drive into her hard and fast, and come like a freight train.
“Talk to me,” he said. “Tell me what you’re feeling.” His hand went to the remote controller again, and her eyes widened. Another level? This one was intense enough.
“I can’t,” she gasped. If he turned it up, she was going to come, and probably leave a wet mark on the back of her dress and on this fancy restaurant chair.
He pushed the button.
Her head fell back as the vibration intensified. It surged through her entire body like electricity. Every cell was alive with pleasure, the feeling centered between her legs. The only thing that could make the sensation better would be having him inside her, filling her.
“Look at me,” he whispered.
She forced herself to do what he asked, and found that once her eyes were open she could keep them that way. He was gorgeous. She wanted to kiss him, to unzip his pants and stroke him. She couldn’t make the words to describe how it felt, so she wanted to show him. But her hands were squeezing her thighs hard enough to bruise, and there was no way she’d be able to unlock her fingers.
His hands were beneath the table. Was he stroking himself? No, it would be too obvious. But he had to be touching his own hardness, burning to fondle it. Struggling against the ache of his need. His passion was just as naked as hers, shining clearly from his eyes.
The first jolt of her orgasm hit in a wave of sensation so intense she lost herself completely. When she heard herself cry out, she tried to bite back another sound, fighting to clamp her jaws together and keep her cries in her throat.
Damien moved the candle aside so he could lean forward and take her face in his hands. As her release shuddered through her, he put his mouth over hers. Thank goodness. Now she could moan into his mouth and his deep, passionate kiss absorbed the sound.
He hit the remote controller again without looking and the vibrations slowed, and then stopped. Her body jerked a few more times, before the last of her orgasm faded. She came back to herself slowly. Back into his kiss. Into a restaurant crowded with people.
Oh. Shit. Had she really just had one of the most intense orgasms of her life where all the other diners could see her?
He let her go and she sat back and looked around. The couple at the next table were staring at her open-mouthed. Geena flushed.
“This wine’s to die for. You should try it.” She lifted her glass and gave them as innocent a smile as she could manage. As she turned back to Damien, she heard them call the waiter over.
“You okay?” Damien’s gaze was still heavy with lust, and the look he gave her made her feel sexy. It aroused her all over again.
She shifted on her chair. Hell, she was soaked. The vibrating panties were practically floating. She could only hope her dre
ss wouldn’t show any marks. Where were the restrooms? Could she make it there without showing her back to anyone?
“I’d better go and clean up.”
She stood and walked quickly to the bathroom where she took her wet panties off and put them in her handbag. Better to go naked than wear those. Thank goodness the puddle hadn’t soaked through to her dress.
She touched up her lipstick and hair before going back into the restaurant. Damien was sitting with his back unnaturally straight, and she felt a thrill. Bet he’s still rock hard.
Shame he couldn’t have come like she had, but when they got back to his place, he’d more than make up for it, she was certain. A flicker of pity for him turned into an evil idea, and she smiled as she sat back down.
I’m a very bad girl.
“I had to take the panties off,” she said casually. “They were soaked. Besides, it feels good wearing none at all.” She shifted forward on her chair so her knees touched his, and spread her legs a little under the table.
He groaned. “Are you trying to kill me? I can’t think because of the massive blood loss from my brain.”
“You think you’re going to be able to stand up by the time we have to leave?”
“I’m tempted to go and beat off, but getting to the bathroom would be a challenge.”
A jolt of pure lust ran through her. Her orgasm had been amazing but there was still an empty place inside her demanding to be filled. “We could go to the bathroom together?”
“I can see the headline now. Sydney’s most hated man caught with his pants down.”
A polite cough came from behind Geena and she turned.
To give him credit, their waiter was straight-faced as he put two steaming plates in front of them. “Here are your meals. Bon Appétit.”
Geena burst into laughter. “I guess we’d better eat.”
Damien nodded grimly. “But just wait until I get you home.”
15
Damien woke up with his arm thrown over Geena. She was fast asleep, her breathing so deep it almost qualified as snoring. He smiled as she murmured something in her sleep. Dreaming? He moved slowly so as not to wake her and smoothed her hair back from her face so he could see her better. Running one finger gently over her soft cheek, he held his breath a moment. She was beautiful. And funny, and exciting, and smart. Being with her felt so comfortable, so right.
Fuck.
What was wrong with him? The last thing he wanted was to fall for her. She was the wrong woman for him. Too much of a risk taker. He’d sworn never to open himself up to that kind of pain again, so what the hell was he doing?
She stirred in her sleep, and when she brushed against him his morning wood hardened into something more insistent. One touch and she had his body at full alert. How was he supposed to resist her?
Her eyes opened, and she stretched. “Morning.” She snuggled against him and put her head on his shoulder.
“Morning yourself.” He stroked her back, wanting to push her away and hold her close at the same time. But she felt so damn good in his arms that pushing her away wasn’t an option. Shit. Maybe he should stop fighting it and admit that he was falling for her.
Geena ran her hand down his stomach, stroking her fingers idly up and down his abs. Mmm. His whole body liked that. Especially the middle bit.
As though she’d heard his thought, her hand moved down to stroke his hardness. “Good morning,” she whispered again. She reached to grab a condom from the bedside table, and rolled it onto his length.
Damien closed his eyes. No more thinking. Not while she was touching him like that, driving him wild with desire. There was only one thing to think about and that was pleasure. Hers and his.
Using the hand that wasn’t trapped underneath her, he stroked her breasts, her nipples, her belly. Shit, but he loved her curves. He loved every inch of her.
His fingers explored the cleft between her thighs and he stroked her, finding moisture where he touched. She spread her thighs for him, and he lifted his head to kiss her neck and throat.
“No toys this time,” she murmured. Her green eyes found his and he gazed into them as he answered.
“No toys,” he agreed. “Just you and me.”
Holding her gaze, he slid into her slowly, enjoying the way her eyelids dropped in response to the sensation, the way her breath dragged in and her teeth caught her upper lip. He fit her snugly, loving her tightness, the way he filled her. They matched together perfectly.
Damien resisted the urge to push into her hard and fast, to rush them both to the climax that seemed so tantalizingly close. Instead he took his time, running his hands over her body, enjoying the feel of her. Tasting the hollow in the base of her throat, gently sucking her ear lobe, feathering kisses along the line of her jaw. He rolled each nipple in turn under his thumb, teasing them until they were as hard and needy as he was.
Finally, when they were both so ready for climax they couldn’t stand to wait any longer, he rolled them both over so she was on top of him. That way he could stroke her sex while she rode him. She threw her head back and moaned with pleasure while he fingered her. And he lifted his head to watch her thrust up and down on his cock while she climaxed, convulsing in urgent spasms that drove him over the edge to join her.
They lay in each other’s arms afterwards, drifting in and out of sleep. Then Damien woke up with a start and looked at the clock. He groaned. “I have to get up. I have a lot to do today.”
She opened one eye and tightened her arm around him, refusing to let him go. “Like what?”
“Like serving lunch in a homeless shelter. My PR Company set it up.” Now the day had arrived, Damien hated the idea even more. If only the shelter Bryce had picked wasn’t in King’s Cross. Fuck. For the millionth time, he wished the police had managed to arrest the men who’d killed Cilla. Even with all his money, hiring the best people, Damien hadn’t got any further than they had. The thought the men were still on the street was bad enough. The idea he might unknowingly give them a meal was a million times worse.
“Anything that shines a spotlight on the plight of the homeless is a good thing,” she murmured.
“You sound like Bryce.”
“And maybe after a nice wakeup call like the one we just had, you’ll feel like smiling at the media for a change.”
“Did you get enough information last night to finish the article?” He’d managed to dial down his passion enough to answer more questions as they ate, and she’d filled several more pages with notes about the things they’d been working on in her store.
“Yes.” Her tone was suddenly hesitant.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, there’s something I’ve been wondering about. Not for the article, but for me. About your friend who died.”
He felt himself stiffen and forced the tension away. After such an intense love making session, he didn’t want to lose the feeling of well-being that still lingered. “What do you want to know?”
“When you say her name, there’s something in your eyes. Were you in love with her?”
He hesitated. “Cilla and Zac lived next door when I was a kid. The three of us grew up together.” The words took an effort to force out. He’d never told anyone the truth about him and Cilla, but he didn’t want to lie to Geena. Not after what they’d just shared. “Being with her in that way should have been unthinkable, but somehow it happened anyway. We couldn’t stop and she was adamant we shouldn’t tell Zac. She was certain he wouldn’t forgive us.”
Geena was silent and he had no idea what she was thinking. But now he’d started telling her the story, he needed to finish.
“We were together for three months, but I never felt right about it. The night before she died, I told her that was it. If she didn’t agree that I could tell Zac, then we couldn’t go on. She got upset. Told me it wasn’t fair to force her to choose between me and her brother. That she couldn’t bear to hurt him, and she didn’t see why we had to tell him.” He
took a deep breath, remembering their argument and how bitter it had been. “So I ended it with her. The next night she went out with friends, wanting to forget her pain and wipe out the memory of how much I’d hurt her. That’s why she went to the Kingston. That’s why she died.”
He closed his eyes, wishing he didn’t feel so responsible. It was crazy to blame himself when Cilla had been an adult, capable of making her own choices. But when it came to guilt, logic didn’t matter.
“Does Zac know?” she asked.
“I’ve never told him. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t want to add to his pain.”
She rose onto one elbow so she could look at him. “Telling him might help. You blame yourself for her death, but I doubt anyone would think it was your fault. She was hurt, so she went to buy drugs. She could have just as easily been happy and wanted them anyway.”
Damien gave a soft sigh. “She never imagined anything bad could happen. Never spared a thought for her own safety. She went alone to the boarding house at night, with a purse full of cash.”
Geena ran the tip of one finger down the line of his jaw. “I’m sorry.”
“Do you see why you have to be more careful?”
She frowned. “I might be impulsive, but I’m more careful than you give me credit for. I did a self-defense course because I wanted to be able to look after myself.”
“And what would you do against four men? No amount of self-defense classes would do any good.” His gut tightened at the idea of Geena facing Cilla’s attackers. Her store was only a few blocks from the site of the Kingston Boarding House. She could walk past them every day without realizing.
Geena sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t compare us.”
“Then act more responsibly.”
A little crease deepened between her brows. “You know, when I was growing up, my mother would always say how I should be more like Ally. And that was exactly why I started dying my hair and skipping school, to be as unlike Ally as I possibly could.”
The Rich List Series: Contemporary Romance Box Set (Millionaire, Billionaire, CEO) Page 31
