“You didn’t know,” I said. “It’s the reason why I haven’t had a boyfriend in three years. I just don’t trust men not to be complete scumbags.”
“Then why are you on this show with Ace? He’s not exactly the warmest and inviting man in the world.”
“I think you’re wrong about him. I think there’s someone different behind the public persona.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but I don’t know if I’ll find it out through this show. They told me our dates after the show ends would all be for well...show.”
“That’s a drag to find out.”
“Not for me,” I said, gulping the rest of my wine. “I don’t think I’m ready for a grown-up relationship. I couldn’t commit to marry someone without love like they do on these TV shows.”
“That’s pretty admirable to hear these days.” Tracy had a pretty warm smile on her face, the first time she’d appeared human and not some robot programmed to be happy.
“Thanks Tracy. I’m glad you think so.”
“This might shock you Amy, but I don’t have a lot of friends.”
“You? No way.”
“It’s true, I don’t know anyone here. I had a ton of friends back in Texas, but I left them to follow my dream. It’s been tough to meet people; they think I come on too strong.”
“Well you do. I hate to break that to you.”
“I know. I’ve tried to force these things my whole life. But, what I’m trying to say is….I’m really glad you brought me along for this. I think we can be good friends someday!”
“Well you certainly seem comfortable talking to me,” I said. She was already spilling her feelings to me or did she do that with everyone?
“You’re easy for me to talk to. I feel like we’re the same person trying to make it here.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
We made small talk, mainly things we thought would look good for the camera. We trashed on Cookie some more and talked about how hot Ace was. Soon enough it was confession time.
The confession room was tiny, no bigger than a jail cell. There was a wicker chair planted in front of a camera. I sat down and picked up a microphone which clipped to my top. Unlike the other rooms in the house this one felt cold, uninviting. I took a deep breath and began to spill my guts about the jet ride.
Chapter 6
I imagined dramatic music playing as a narrator with a deep voice, like he had a pack a day habit, announced my arrival at dinner. Maybe that would be the case or maybe they’d just come back from commercial break with me at the table. Whatever the case, I was the first one at dinner.
The setting was beautiful, as everything on this trip had been. The table was made of bamboo and sat on a wooden platform between the lush grassy courtyard and the white sandy beach. The sky was painted a deep purple melded with orange as the sun set over the water. Again I couldn’t believe how fresh the air was, it was cleaner than any air I had ever breathed. I didn’t know if I’d be able to return to normal society after this.
I looked up as Cookie walked over to join me, she was dressed in a low cut red dress that showed off every asset she had.
With my confessional in mind the deep voiced narrator popped up in my head again. “Here comes Amy’s arch-enemy Cookie. Will her body get the attention of Ace or will Amy’s naïve charm take the night?”
Then they’d flash to Ace in his confessional. “You know Amy was a super sweet girl, but man look at those cans!”
I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t say cans, but the thought still made me giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Cookie asked, taking a seat directly across from me.
“Nothing,” I said, hiding my smile. “I was just thinking about something funny my friend from home said.”
“Oh well that’s nice,” she said, giving me a half smile. I wondered what was going on behind those doe like eyes of hers.
I didn’t have much time to contemplate it because Ace came strutting through the courtyard, wearing a white cabana shirt and slacks. I’d never seen the famous billionaire this dressed down and damn, he looked good.
“Hello ladies,” he said, taking a seat next to us. “I hope you both have your appetite. It’s surf and turf tonight.”
“What’s that?” Cookie asked. I rolled my eyes.
“Steak and lobster,” Ace said.
“Oh, I don’t eat meat,” Cookie said. “It’s murder.”
Ace looked like he’d just sniffed a horrible fart. “No meat?”
“None at all,” she said. “I tried to go vegan but it was hard to give up low fat cream cheese.”
After his momentary slip-up he regained his composure and smiled. “Well then we’ll have the waiter bring you a salad my dear.”
“Can I have some broccoli too?”
“Nonsense, that gives you gas.” Ace lifted his hand and signaled for a waiter who appeared out of nowhere. Seriously, where did that guy come from? He just appeared out of the darkness.
“Gas?” Cookie said, her expression shifting to confusion.
I snickered at the comment drawing a look from both. “Sorry, it just sounded funny.”
Dinner was delicious and the waiter kept refilling our wine glasses. I began to feel light headed and the beach started to spin. I cursed myself for drinking so much, but it was the finest wine I’d ever had. I could tell Cookie was three sheets to the wind; she could barely control the volume of her voice. However, Ace seemed to remain perfectly sober. Was he even drinking the wine?
Again I pictured the narrator. “Ace has expertly gotten both women drunker than a skunk. Now we’ll see how they react around the sexy billionaire with no inhibitions. Will they remain lady like or will they take a bite out of that tight tan ass. I mean look at that thing, I want to squeeze it. Ruff!”
Ok maybe the narrator wouldn’t add on the last part and bark like a dog, but it was my fantasy. I’m sure there were plenty of men that wanted a piece of Ace.
Dinner conversation was banal at best and I found myself getting bored and staring off at the ocean, trying not to get sick from the alcohol. Cookie kept bouncing up and hitting the table with her knee which startled me each time.
Finally Ace had enough dinner and was ready for desert. “Would you ladies like to join me in the hot tub?”
“What hot tub?” I asked.
He gave me his best smug smile before standing up and fishing a remote control out of his pocket. He pressed a button and a gazebo in the middle of the courtyard lit up with multi-colored mood lighting. In the middle was a large hot tub, already steaming. “Go put on your swimsuits; I’ll see you ladies in ten.”
Cookie nearly fell over backwards trying to get out of her chair and run back to her room. Before I knew it I was sitting at the table alone. “I bet her bikini looks like dental floss.”
Tracy was nowhere to be found when I returned to the room, probably eating at an undisclosed location. I quickly changed into the American flag bikini they provided for me, making me look even more like a dumb redneck.
Luckily I wasn’t the first to make it back to the hot tub; Ace was already sitting on the edge. He’d been working out since his TMZ vacation photos, his chest was much more defined, his shoulders rounded off like boulders and his arms were cut. He was wearing simple white swim trunks that I hoped would become see through in the water.
Don’t be so dirty, I thought. Truth was all I’d do was have dirty thoughts; I’d never act on them. I was way too modest.
“You look stunning,” Ace said, standing up to hug me. “Miss Cookie appears to be running late; would you like to have a dip in the tub?”
“Certainly,” I said, wasting no time sinking into the water.
Ace settled in beside me, putting his arm around me. I immediately felt like jelly in his arms and I found myself becoming aroused again. I rubbed my legs together, feeling the tingle growing between them.
“Are you nervous?” he asked, feeling me tense up.
&nbs
p; “A little,” I admitted.
“Why?”
“I’m just not used to this much touching, especially from every woman’s fantasy.”
He let out a deep belly laugh before turning back to me. “I love your innocence. Don’t worry though; I’m not every woman’s fantasy.”
You’re definitely one of mine, I thought.
“I like your tattoo,” he said, tracing the tribal heart design on my ribcage with his finger. I was glad I was in warm water and he couldn’t see my goose bumps. His touch was magical, like nothing I’d ever felt. I really didn’t like this man, that I barely knew, having so much power over me with just a poke from one finger, but I couldn’t control my body’s reaction. I felt like a helpless pawn in a game too difficult for me.
“Thank you,” I finally said, meekly.
“What does it mean?”
“Love,” I said bluntly.
“Well obviously, it’s a heart. Any special meaning?”
Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the comfort I was beginning to feel with him, but I just started talking. “I got it a year or so after my senior prom. It reminds me to love myself and not to do anything without love. It’s really corny when I say it out loud.”
“No it’s not. What do you mean not do anything without love?” His green eyes were focused on me, genuine concern appearing in them. I had never seen this side of Ace Pearson anywhere before.
“I lost my virginity to a man I didn’t love,” I started to say.
“Don’t we all?” he said, a short laugh escaping his smile.
“I lost it against my will.”
His face immediately dropped. The gamut of emotions he ran after I said that was amazing. First he appeared a bit confused, then I could see a sneer of anger cross his face and then he dipped back to concern. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, he slipped something into my drink. I don’t remember a thing. When I woke up the next morning we were both in the hotel bed naked.”
I could feel the tears starting to well up in my eyes as I relived the painful experience.
He pulled me in closer and whispered in my ear. “We don’t have to talk about this.”
“It’s ok,” I said, whispering back. “I’ve only ever told one other person. It feels good to get it off my chest.”
“What happened next?” he asked.
“He was pretty proud of himself. I was disgusted, but at the same time I thought I loved him so I was ok with it. The next day I went to his house and heard him on the phone bragging with a friend about it. He didn’t care for me at all; he just wanted to get action. I told him off that day and haven’t dated a man since.”
“Why not?”
“I was always saving myself for the special one.”
“Very few people do that these days.”
“I know, but I still had that romantic idea in my head. It tore me up that I had been so careless, that I had it all ripped away from me by a man I didn’t love. It wasn’t my choice to give that to him, it was taken from me.”
“That’s tough,” he said. His face was so thoughtful and concerned, like each word was impacting him.
“I read up on victims of abuse. Some turn into sex-crazed nymphos trying to hide the pain with a new partner every night. Some clam up and never trust men again. I vowed that I would lead a normal life and not become either one of those.”
“And did you?” He was still so close to my face, so concerned. His voice was gentle and the smell of his cologne was driving me wild. It was only a couple of inches to put my lips on his, but I had to resist.
“For a time, but I never dated again after that. I found myself turning into the second person I read about. Every man I met I didn’t trust. I felt like they’d all just hump me and dump me.”
“You’re speaking in the past tense,” Ace said. “Have things changed?”
“I want them to,” I said, trying not to look at him.
“What would change it?” he asked.
“The right man,” I said, running my hand across his chest.
“I hope you find him,” he said. The muscles in his arms tightened around me.
“ I got this tattoo to remind myself that I am a worthy person and I need to love myself first. It also reminds me to never give myself to a man without love. Never.”
“That’s admirable,” he said, still very close. I looked up at him, our eyes locking. I wanted to kiss him so badly and I could tell he wanted the same. Nobody had ever taken this kind of interest in me; nobody wanted to hear about my past. I couldn’t believe I confided it all to him just like that, but he was so easy to talk to. I began to lean in, my eyes closing. I was ready for another man’s touch, ready for a man I thought I could fall head over heels for. Our lips met and it was better than I had ever dreamed. Immediately sparks flew as he hungrily pulled me close to his body. My mouth opened and my tongue darted out into his mouth. We remained locked in our lovely embrace with our tongues pushing back and forth at one another. I hadn’t kissed someone in so long, but everything about this felt natural. It was the most amazing kiss I’d ever experienced, and it was with a man I barely knew. Yet somehow, I felt like I’d known him my entire life. One of my hands went up and began to rub through his perfect hair while my other felt the tight muscles in his back. He had one hand on the back of my head, keeping my lips against his. He was rubbing up and down my leg with the other hand, but I made no motion to stop him. His touch felt amazing, and I could feel the juices flowing between my legs. I was so turned on I could have given myself to him right there. There was definitely chemistry here.
“Hey guys! Sorry I’m late!” I pulled away instantly, turning to find Cookie shambling up to the hot tub, a cocktail in hand. I looked back to Ace who looked as sour as I’d ever seen him. My heart jumped a little too, he had wanted it and was upset it was ruined. I could’ve gone to bed a happy woman right then.
“Welcome Cookie,” he said, standing up to greet her. “I must say, you look stunning.”
His compliment was a bit dry and that made my heart smile even more. To call Cookie’s bathing suit dental floss was an insult to dental floss everywhere, this thing was tiny. The only thing covered on her silicon enhanced breasts were the nipples. Everything else was there for the world to see.
“I can’t wait to have some hot tub fun!” she said, climbing over the edge and nearly falling into the tub. “God damn you look sexy Amy.”
“Thanks,” I said, trying not to make direct eye contact with her tits. “You as well.”
Ace settled down between us, obviously a bit frustrated. “So I see you got more to drink.”
“Of course I did! It’s always a party when Cookie is around!”
“So I see,” Ace said, turning back towards me. He rolled his eyes and then turned back to Cookie. “How has your night been dear?”
“Wonderful.” She looked Ace up and down, lust forming in her eyes. “You look almost as sexy as she does.”
“Almost?” Ace asked.
What the hell? I thought. I remembered girls like Cookie from college. They were perfectly straight, until alcohol got involved. Then, for reasons I couldn’t figure out, they wanted to kiss every woman in sight. I had a friend the same way, but I’d rebuffed all her advances.
“Come here you,” Cookie said, leaping forward. I thought she was going for Ace, but she bypassed him completely and landed in my lap.
Her drunken lips found my neck and began to dance up and down my soft skin, her tongue darting out to lick me between kisses.
I gave Ace a helpless look, but he was leaned back with amusement wiped across his face. Was he enjoying this? Of course he was, he’s a man.
Her hands were roughly squeezing my breasts while her mouth finally found its’ way between them. She pressed them together, squeezing her face, while her tongue explored every inch of my chest.
I could feel myself getting more and more turned on, the heat between my legs was astounding. My pussy
was beginning to throb with the thought of her tongue expertly working my clit. I started to rub my hands through her hair guiding her head around my body. Then I looked over at Ace who had one eyebrow cocked. I remembered our discussion about my tattoo and realized how drunk I actually was.
“No!” I shouted, pushing Cookie away. She lost her balance and fell backwards into the water, her entire head submerging.
She exploded back out, looking pissed off. “What the hell is your problem you little prude?”
“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling my face grow hot. The tears were starting to well up again. I had to get the hell out of there.
I jumped out of the tub and grabbed a towel that was stacked next to it. “I’m sorry Ace. I have to go. I’m sorry for shoving you Cookie.”
“Please Amy wait!” Ace shouted as I ran through the courtyard like a child that had just been admonished. I was embarrassed at my reaction and embarrassed I had let it go that far.
I burst through the door of my cabin, still dripping water everywhere. Tracy jumped up from the couch where she had obviously been napping. “What is wrong? Why are you crying?”
She started to come at me, her arms outstretched. “No Tracy! Just leave me alone!” I ran to my room and slammed the door, collapsing into bed.
I buried my face in the pillow and sobbed. How could I be so stupid? I had almost given in to Ace and his charm and then I let some floozy with fake tits and a magic tongue nearly compromise who I was.
Magic tongue, I thought. She’s probably using it on Ace right now.
The thought that I had just completely lost Ace to her flooded my brain and caused me to sob even harder. Tracy knocked at the door, but I ignored it. Instead I fell asleep that night with my face buried in a tear soaked pillow.
Chapter 7
The next morning I woke up feeling shockingly fine with no hangover. Maybe it was waking up in paradise that helped. The warm morning air was shining through my window joined by sunlight and the chirping of birds. I sat up and stretched out, looking down at the damp bikini I was wearing.
“Oh yeah. That,” I said, remembering how things had went down the night before. “What am I going to do?”
Sharing the Billionaire (Billionaire Ace #1) Page 4
