Billionaire Unloved

by J. S. Scott

  I was all grown up and I was in love with Jett Lawson.

  “Fuck!” he cursed as he finally moved and put his forehead against mine. “Don’t say that shit to me if you don’t mean it, because you’ll never get away from me, Ruby.”

  “I mean it,” I replied without hesitation. “And I have no desire to go anywhere.”

  “Then how can you even question whether or not I feel the same way?” he said in a graveled voice as he tugged me over to the merry-go-round, sat down on the metal surface and pulled me down on top of him.

  “Do you?” I asked as I straddled him, the metal cold against my legs.

  With his hands gripping my ass to support my body and keep it from tumbling from his lap and onto the dirt, he replied, “I’ve been completely screwed since the first time you looked at me like you wanted to trust me, but you couldn’t. I’ve never really believed in love at first sight, but I knew we belonged together from that very moment, Ruby. And that love just got deeper and more intense with every moment we’ve spent together since. Now I can’t live without you anymore. And I was hoping to hell that you’d stay with me forever or I knew I’d be completely fucked.”

  I remembered the first time we’d locked eyes up on the auction stage. For an instant, I’d felt something, too. But I’d been too terrified to trust my initial instincts. “And the marriage proposal?”

  “I already knew you belonged with me,” he growled. “And I never wanted anybody touching you again. But the last thing I wanted was to scare the hell out of you. So I figured I’d settle for whatever I could get.”

  My heart was still so full that I wanted to cry. I lowered my head and gave him a gentle kiss. “You should never settle, Jett. You deserve everything.”

  “I have it,” he grunted. “Everything that means something to me is right here on this playground. I love you, Ruby. Maybe I didn’t understand what love could be before, but I get it now, and I fucking worship you.”

  He stroked a hand up and down my back. I sighed and leaned into him. “You don’t always have to worship me,” I advised. I didn’t mind getting down and dirty whenever he wanted. “I just want you to love me.”

  “Already do,” he grumbled.

  I ground my hips down, staying there for a moment to enjoy the feeling of his hard cock riding against my panties. “Then let’s talk about that urgent need you have to get inside me,” I insisted.

  “Ruby.” He groaned as he tried to make me stop humping him. “I’m not taking you outside in the cold on a goddamn playground.”

  It had been a beautiful day for a wedding, and it was unseasonably warm for fall. Marcus had been teasing his bride that the weather didn’t dare be anything other than perfect on their wedding day.

  After dark, it had cooled down, but it wasn’t exactly freezing.

  “I’m an Ohio girl who knows what cold really is,” I said as I reached between our bodies to liberate his cock. “And you’ll warm me up.”

  I’d been aching for Jett from the moment I’d heard his voice, and I wasn’t taking no for an answer. “I need you,” I whispered into his ear.

  “Then I’m giving us both what we want,” he growled.

  “I want you,” I confessed with a sigh.

  He stood up and took me with him, letting my feet slowly find the ground.

  He placed my hands on the bars of the merry-go-round and bent me over. “Don’t move,” he demanded.

  I shivered, his tone so commanding that I wasn’t about to argue.

  In less than a minute, Jett was lifting my little black dress, lowering my panties and caressing the cheeks of my ass. I gripped the metal bar harder as he moved a hand between my thighs.

  The first stroke of his fingers over the sensitive flesh of my pussy nearly made my legs give. “Oh, God. Jett, please don’t tease me,” I gasped.

  “I’ll show you as much mercy as you had for me, sweetheart,” he answered, his voice heavy with need.

  I knew I was going to pay for poking the beast, but I didn’t care.

  I gasped as Jett tormented my clit, his rhythmic strokes strong, and without his usual finesse.

  When he impaled me with his cock, I arched my back with satisfaction and pressed back against him.

  Both of us were raw and hungry, desperate to get what we needed. And anything except giving each other everything wasn’t going to satisfy us.

  Our joining was frantic and chaotic. It felt strange to be completely dressed, but so intimately connected.

  I was so submerged in satiating the need that was clawing at me relentlessly that I didn’t notice anything except the feel of Jett surging forward and filling me over and over again.

  Jett’s tight grip on my hips was the only thing that kept me grounded as he pummeled into me.

  “Come for me, Ruby,” he demanded. “I’m not going to be able to hold back.”

  I could sense his tension, and I knew everything was way too intense and urgent this time. Without thinking about what to do, I acted on instinct, lifting my hand and putting it between my legs to rub the tiny bundle of nerves that I knew would set me off.

  “Hell, yes. Help me this time, baby,” Jett growled.

  My fingers slid into my warmth and wetness that felt like silk, and I felt my climax rushing up to meet me almost immediately.

  “Jett,” I screamed, slightly terrified by the magnitude of the force rushing up to meet me as my orgasm hit me hard.

  I grabbed onto the bar again with both hands as I rode a wave of pleasure that was ferociously taking my body over.

  “Ruby!” I heard him groan as he held onto my hips and buried his cock one more time.

  I would have collapsed if Jett hadn’t been there with a pair of strong arms that held me tight as I milked him to his own heated release.

  I couldn’t move as I tried to recover my breath, and my body was still trembling as Jett cleaned me up, presumably with his own handkerchief, and then pulled my panties back onto my ass.

  My theory was confirmed when he turned me around just in time to see him slide the hankie back into his pocket.

  I stepped forward as his arms wrapped around me, and my head dropped to his shoulder.

  “I can’t believe we just had a quickie on a playground like a couple of horny teenagers,” Jett said hoarsely as he nuzzled my neck.

  I smiled at his words. “Are you complaining?” I asked. “I know I’m not.”

  “I’m not exactly complaining, but I don’t think I’m always comfortable with the way I feel about you. You make me crazy,” he confided.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him, letting him know that I felt exactly the same way.

  Ruby

  “They look so happy,” I said to Jett as we watched the bride and groom share a dance.

  I’d talked Jett into going back to the reception. There was no way I wanted him to leave when he was the best man, and the bride was his sister. Not because of me.

  My body was still singing after our activities in the dark, and my heart was so full of love that I could hardly breathe.

  I’d briefly wondered if anybody had seen us, but it would have been difficult since we’d been so far away and there was very little light. But even if they had, I couldn’t regret it. And I’d noticed that Jett had positioned our bodies so his back was to the resort. Even when we got crazy, he was always protecting me.

  “Marcus has no idea what he just signed up for,” Mason said from his position next to us at the table.

  “None,” Jett agreed.

  “Dani’s a wonderful woman,” I told Jett as I slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “Marcus is a lucky guy.”

  “She’s a handful,” Mason observed. “You have no idea how much trouble she got herself into when she was a kid.”

  “Marcus is screwed,” Jett answered with h
umor in his voice.

  “Both of you stop,” Harper insisted from across the table with Blake at her side.

  Strangely, both of the guys went quiet, and I saw Blake smirking as he looked over at Mason and Jett.

  It was amusing to see two super-rich guys stop talking the minute their sister scolded them.

  Carter was noticeably absent, but I’d told Jett the whole story that his older brother had shared with me, hopeful that he’d eventually forgive and forget. Even though Jett was angry that Carter had tried to control his life, I thought that I’d heard a note of relief as Jett was grumbling about Carter stepping too far over the line.

  As I looked around the table, I told myself I’d do everything I could for the man I loved to get his broken family back together.

  They needed each other, even though some of them still probably didn’t want to admit it.

  “The cake is fantastic, Ruby,” Harper said as she set her fork down on her empty plate.

  I opened my mouth to tell her that it wasn’t bad for a non-professional, but I shut it again. I was done critiquing everything I did. So I just said, “Thank you.”

  “You’re learning,” Jett said in a low voice next to my ear.

  I smiled at him. “Yes, I think that I am.”

  “And the cake was fantastic,” he said with a grin.

  “Have you ever met a cake you didn’t like?” I asked with a delighted laugh.

  “Not that I can remember,” he answered. “But I happened to love yours.”

  My heart did a happy dance as I realized that we were talking about more than cake. “I love you,” I whispered quietly.

  “I love you, too, baby,” he said, not bothering to lower his voice. “And I don’t give a damn who knows it.”

  “I don’t care, either,” I confessed. “I’ll get on the table and announce to everybody here that I love you, but I guess I just kind of want to keep it all to myself for tonight.”

  “No getting on tables,” he warned. “Every guy here could see up your dress.”

  “You’re impossible,” I told him.

  “You’re beautiful,” he replied.

  My body infused with a warmth that had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with the fact that Jett Lawson loved me. Sometimes he said outrageous things, but I knew he meant every one that he uttered.

  “My Cinderella story isn’t over,” I said softly as I watched the bride and groom take the floor again for a slow song. “When I’m here with you, and I look at this ballroom, it feels kind of surreal. Not long ago I was homeless, and now I’m all dressed up like a person just going about a regular life. Okay, maybe not regular. More like extraordinary.”

  “It’s finally how it was supposed to be,” Jett concluded.

  “I’d do it all over again if I’d still end up with you,” I told him.

  “Not happening,” he argued as he wrapped a possessive arm around my waist. “You don’t need to do it all over again. I already have an ulcer from thinking about something happening to you.”

  I sighed. I had no idea how I’d gotten from one place to another so fast, but I wasn’t going to question fate.

  I slowly rose to my feet. “Will you dance with me, Jett?” I asked as I put a hand on his broad shoulder.

  I held my breath as he gave me a startled look. “Ruby, you know that I can’t—

  “We’ll take it slow,” I said, feeling several pairs of eyes on us as I encouraged him to do the very thing that his ex-fiancée said he’d never be able to do again.

  Both of us had grown so much, and I was pretty sure I knew what Jett was capable of doing.

  He just wasn’t so sure he knew what he could do.

  “I was a lousy dancer before I had the accident,” he warned, his voice slightly uncomfortable.

  “He’s lying,” Harper said. “He’s a fantastic dancer.”

  I looked at Jett’s sister, giving her a look to let her know I was grateful for backup.

  “But it will give you a good excuse to feel me up,” I bent down and said in a whisper.

  My heart lurched as I straightened up and saw genuine fear in his eyes.

  Maybe I’d made a mistake.

  Maybe I’d pushed him too far.

  Maybe I’d hurt him.

  He stood up and wrapped his arm around my waist. “You really know how to convince me to do anything. You got me with the feeling you up part.”

  I beamed up at him as I took his arm. “Good. Because there’s nobody else I want to touch me but you. And I don’t believe you can’t dance.”

  I searched his face, trying to tell him with my eyes that there was nothing to stop him except himself.

  “You’ll find out if I end up dumping us both on our asses,” he said roughly as he took my hand and led me slowly out to the floor.

  I didn’t give him time to think about what he was doing as I slid my arms around his neck. “I think dancing can be like making love to someone in a different way,” I told him.

  “I’m pretty okay with the old way,” he rumbled as he took my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist.

  I laughed as he led me slowly around the dance floor. It was a very slow beat, and Jett was easy to follow as I leaned into him just enough to try to make him forget that he was dancing.

  I rested my head on his shoulder, and we fell naturally into a slow rhythm that was comfortable for both of us.

  We swayed together until I finally said, “You’re a phenomenal dancer.”

  “You’re nuts,” he said, his voice lighter. “And you lured me into this with lustful promises.”

  At that moment, I knew that everything was going to be okay. Jett and I were made to challenge each other, but only in the best of ways.

  I felt his hand stroke across my back, and the sensation made me shiver.

  “I’m sure you were born with lustful thoughts,” I answered, teasing him.

  “I’m only that way with you,” he said huskily as he leaned back to look at me.

  I fell into the emerald green of his eyes, my heart stuttering as I tumbled.

  When he swooped in to kiss me, everything that had ever been wrong in my world righted itself.

  I might not be completely healed, and I had no doubt that I’d still struggle with my issues for a very long time.

  But tonight, my broken soul had come back together again, and I was more than happy to live with the cracks that needed time to disappear.

  As long as I had the beautiful man who was holding me, there was very little I couldn’t do.

  Ruby

  One Month Later…

  “I’m glad they didn’t get married,” Jett said as we left the church where Stuart and Lia were supposed to get married.

  “She’s heartbroken,” I told him.

  “No, she’s not,” Jett argued as he opened the door of the sedan and waited for me to get into the car.

  Pete had parked outside the church and he looked startled when I jumped inside.

  Jett explained to his friend and driver that the ceremony never happened, and we’d be headed back home.

  “No woman wants to be left at the altar,” I admonished.

  As the car started moving, Jett said, “Better that than married to a jerk. I expect we’ll get another wedding invitation pretty soon.”

  “From who?” I asked curiously.

  “Zeke and Lia,” he explained calmly. “Zeke will make his move now that Lia has to get married or lose her inheritance.”

  “She doesn’t love Zeke,” I pointed out.

  “If she doesn’t now, she will. Those two were meant to be together. She didn’t really love Stuart. I think she just talked herself into loving the idea of being married to him.”

  After watching Lia as the wedding approached, I couldn’t exactly
say that Jett was wrong. Honestly, I didn’t think Lia loved Stuart, either. “I hope she ends up with Zeke,” I conceded.

  It was obvious that Zeke adored Lia, and he’d treat my friend right. Unlike Stuart, who sounded like a complete jackass.

  I leaned back against the leather seat and watched the city roll by as we headed back toward downtown.

  The last several weeks had been busy, and I was exhausted, but in a good way.

  Things had irrevocably changed between Jett and me since Dani’s wedding. With all our fears out in the open, we could help each other finish healing.

  I had moments when I got scared, but Jett was there to keep me grounded. In return, I tried to alleviate any issues he still had from his accident.

  I talked to Harper almost every day, and Dani was due back from her honeymoon soon, so she’d be back in the loop, too.

  Carter and Jett had buried the hatchet, and surprisingly, Carter had become one of my greatest supporters. He was almost like the big brother I’d never had to defend me, and he took those duties seriously.

  Nothing like two alpha men to drive a woman crazy.

  But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I had to admit that I’d had a soft spot for Carter since I’d realized that his intentions were good. It was just his execution that had been bad.

  Mason was gone again to international sites, so we hadn’t seen him since Dani’s wedding.

  I’d been busy with the bakery stuff, so Jett had become my willing mentor, teaching me the management side of having my own business.

  Everything had happened quickly after I’d started doing regular work for Lia’s shop and preparing for a second Indulgent Brews. I was still supplying Jett’s office, and he wanted me to take over for all the offices. It was going to be a huge job in addition to all of the other businesses that were approaching me every single day.

  I’d wanted to break out.

  And I thrived on being busy, but everything had been crazy the last few weeks.

  I was finally going to be making a ton of money. While I loved the fact that I’d be independent, being wealthy hadn’t been my goal. I’d wanted some kind of safety, and I’d wanted independence.