My Billionaire Stranger

by Shae Black

  “I… I’ve never really told anyone other than my parents and my therapist about them.” He sits stone still, his hands to himself. I think he senses some distance is important for me to be able to tell him my story. I close my eyes briefly and begin telling him my secret, “When I was nineteen my friends and I got fake ID’s and went bar hopping on the weekends.” He tenses in anticipation and I reconsider for a moment. Something in his eyes encourages me to continue though so I do. “I got separated from my friends one night, the place was so packed I lost my best friends hand. I had way too much to drink and wandered out a side door into the alley beside the club. I didn’t see anyone at first, they came out of nowhere and grabbed me. They took me away…” I take a deep shuddering breath and he reaches out his hand to take mine in a firm grip, his throat constricts as he swallows hard.

  “Kidnapped from the bar?” he clarifies.

  “Yes, they picked me up and dragged me, screaming, to a van parked right there in the alley, it was like they had it all planned or something. I fought, but I was outnumbered three to one.”

  “Oh my god Imani…you don’t have to tell me anymore. Just one thing though, were they caught, did they go to prison?” His voice is icy and angry. This was a mistake, why the hell did I tell him? He knows I’m damaged goods now, he’ll never want to touch me again. Who am I kidding? This beautiful man could never want someone like me. But I’ve come this far I may as well finish.

  “Yes, two were caught they’re still locked away, but one wasn’t home when the police raided the house, he’s still out there.” He is shaking now, his grip on my hand is becoming increasingly painful, his veins strain and pulse in his neck. Fuck this is bad; I need to shut up now.

  “This happened ten years ago?” he asks, through tightly clenched teeth.

  “Well more like eleven but Marcus it was a long time ago. I’m sorry, relax I shouldn’t have told you, please don’t get worked up about it, it’s not good for you.” The look on his face is lethal; in fact I can not say that I’ve ever seen another human being look so angry. Sharp pain shoots up my arm. “You’re hurting my hand,” I say softly, and he immediately loosens his grip. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry Imani, for what you’ve been through, for what they did. If I had 2 minutes alone with any of those men, just 2 minutes….” His jaw twitches, and I sigh. “Don’t pity me, it happened, and I can’t change it. I have issues as a result, I don’t want to talk about it anymore right now, it’s hard.” He takes my hand again and tugs my arm, urging me closer to him he pulls back the comforter for me to slide in next to him and I do. Relief spreads through my body; he still wants me. Tears threaten to fall but I bite my lip hard and blink them back. I rest my cheek on his chest and listen to his heartbeat while stretching one arm across his waist as he wraps both of his around me. He kisses the top of my head and rests his chin there. Inhaling the familiar scent of eucalyptus and spearmint I finally allow myself to relax. He hasn’t rejected me after the story of my past, thank God. After a quiet moment he passes his sleeping pills to me, along with a bottle of water. I take the medication gratefully and close my eyes, feeling more safe than I have in my entire adult life nestled in his strong arms.

  Chapter 15

  In the morning before I’ve even opened my eyes I determine that I am entirely too warm…no I take that back I’m hot! Problem number two is that something is seriously cutting into my leg. Opening my eyes I immediately realize where I am and a little burst of butterflies flutter in my tummy. I’m in his bed…Marcus is still asleep breathing soft and steady, holding me close against his chest. He has turned himself slightly toward me with his cast propped on pillows. His cast. That’s what is cutting into my leg. Shit! I need to move but when I try his arms tighten around me.

  “I was wondering how long you would sleep.” His gravely morning voice is incredibly sexy.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you but I need to move my leg off of your cast, it’s cutting into mine.” Sliding my leg off I start to move again but he’s having none of it.

  “Don’t. I want you right here.” He pushes his hip against mine brushing his thick morning length against my leg. I can feel him smile into my hair… this was bound to happen after sleeping next to him, I tip my head back, bringing us face to face.

  “Marcus, we can’t….” “I am not going to lie Imani, I want you. Bad. But we need to take this slow, I understand now.” Oh great, he’s going to treat me like glass now that he knows about my past. This is the absolute worst reaction it confirms that he does realize he's dealing with damaged goods.

  “I don’t want your pity,” I twist to try and get away from him, again with no success. He sighs, rolling his eyes before capturing mine. “I am not pitying you, I want you to stay right here so I can breathe you in, feel your soft warm skin against mine, I want to be so deep inside of you that you don’t know where I end and you begin. You would tempt a saint Imani, there is no pity here, only understanding.” I open my mouth to say something but I close it when he hits me with a look of honest sincerity. He does understand, somehow he does, and maybe he’s been through something terrible too. I snuggle into the space between his arm and chest, there’s no place I’d rather be right now or ever. I am completely dumbfounded, how can I feel this way about a man I hardly know. His fingers feather along my arm as we lay together entwined; no more advances, just closeness. I’ve fallen into a state of complete tranquility when he speaks again. “Imani now I need to get up.”

  “Oh gosh. Of course, bathroom?”

  “Yes, unfortunately.” He loosens his grip on me and I crawl out of bed. I notice a pair of crutches propped against the wall next to the bed, where did those come from? It seems like there is someone in this house who is always one step ahead, anticipating all of our needs. I look at Marcus, eyebrows raised in question. “I have a very efficient staff.” He shrugs, and now those people, or at least the one who snuck the crutches into his room are aware that I have slept with Marcus. Great…

  “Hmm I see that, well let’s get you up then.” Shit, I realize my slip in words before they are out of my mouth and he chuckles. “I won’t say it.” He smiles his million dollar movie-star smile, while I grab the crutches and help him out of bed. When we arrive in his bathroom I nervously ask, “Can you handle it from here?”

  “Yes Imani, I can handle it just fine.” Oh brother, this guy is fond of puns. Rolling my eyes I turn my back on him. “I’m going to get dressed and make you an appointment at the hospital.” He grumbles something about not needing a scan and I scoot next door to retrieve my clothes. I discover a brand new outfit lying on the bed. Jeans, lavender silk boy short panties with lace trim and a matching bra, a thin cream cashmere colored sweater with a row of tiny pearl buttons up the front. It’s exactly like something I would wear. This guy doesn’t miss a beat, how does he arrange all of this while held up in bed? I grab the clothes and head to the bathroom, who am I to say no to clean clothes? After I shower and dress, I pull my hair back into a messy knot at the base of my neck, I don’t have any of my own styling tools so it’ll have to do. I dig in my purse for my phone, only to find that it’s dead. Great. I’m sure my mom has been trying to reach me, not to mention Lana and Latoya. Shit. I made plans to see the kids; I really need to call her. Maybe Marcus has a charger; if I remember correctly we have the same kind of phone. Back in his room I hear the shower and wonder how is he showering with his cast… damn it I leave him alone for 20 min! I crack the door tentatively and ask “Marcus…do you need help, how are you showering with your cast?”

  “Come in here, fuck I hate this shit,” I push the door open and see him through a wall of glass sitting on a stone bench in the most elaborate shower I’ve ever seen. It reminds me of a chapel with stone walls and a row of tiny stained glass windows up high near the ceiling. There are at least ten showerheads spraying in various directions and every one of them is pissing him off. He has a bag taped around his cast. Well at least he thought to do that
.

  “Why didn’t you wait for me? That’s what I’m here for!” I’m suddenly all too aware of his nakedness. I’ve seen almost every inch of him while bathing him in the hospital but I was clearly missing out on seeing the whole package at once! He is a glorious struggling bronze Adonis and as soon as he catches sight of me he hardens. With no shame or inhibitions he sits in the shower with water rippling over every defined muscle on his perfect body. An impressive erection points directly at me…. I gasp and look away embarrassed. “Imani! Do not look away from me damn it! You know I am attracted to you, but right now I really need some help here as much as I fucking hate to admit it.” I do my best to pull it together reminding myself that first and foremost I am here as a professional… yea right. I’m here because I can’t drag myself away from this man. I can’t stand the thought of anyone else touching him, smelling him, caring for him. I step in and redirect several of the showerheads to spray away from us. Squirting some shower gel on a loofa I begin to work at washing every amazing exquisite part of him. All the while his eyes are searing into me. I try very hard to avoid his gaze by directing him to turn so I can get his back. When I’m done soaping and rinsing his chiseled back I help him turn back toward me. Kneeling down I begin washing his feet and work my way up his calves until, his smooth silky erection is at eye level with me, no way around it, literally.

  “Um, do you want me to…?” His eyes full of adoration he nods and I drop the loofa. My breath is suddenly coming in short pants, my heart races, I am so incredibly nervous, but something in me, something I didn’t know existed takes over. I take his solid thick cock in my soapy hand and stroke the impressive length base to tip; a guttural moan from the back of his throat encourages me to go on. “Use both hands,” he instructs through gritted teeth, and I slowly begin to work both hands stroking and twisting in opposite directions, the motion coming naturally to me. I look up at him hoping like hell I’m doing this right. “Like this.” He moves his hands to cover mine gliding them together over the head and back down to the base repeating the motion until I’ve learned the rhythm that evokes the most erotic reaction. When he releases my hands to grip the stone bench on either side of his thighs, I continue until I’m sure he’s close. Seconds before climax he leans forward, grasping me behind my neck with one hand to kiss me with a powerful force, smashing my mouth with his there is nothing tender or gentle about this kiss. I’ve lost all concentration when he pulls away removing my hands from his pulsing length. I’m breathless from that kiss and my knees ache from kneeling on the hard stone floor. The incredible ability to deny himself release is shocking. “Not like this…I want you to be first.”

  I’m stunned…. how can he be so close and just stop like that? “But…I want to, I’ve never done this before.” My admission genuinely surprises him

  “Never?” I shake my head.

  “You’re very good at it.” He smiles with a glimmer of pride in his eye, now I blush; where the hell was that 10 min ago? He holds both of my hands to help me stand up. I grab his shampoo and start massaging his scalp focusing my attention on anything other then his erection while he sits obediently, hands to himself. I rinse him off and shut down all of the water jets. “Towels?” He points to a stack of thick deep purple towels on a stool inside the shower but out of the water’s reach. I towel him off briefly before helping him out. He has one arm draped over my shoulder but I’m really not much help, if he went down I’d fall too. I steady him while he hops to a leather bench outside the shower. When I remove the plastic and tape he’s still at full mast and I’m not sure what to do next, so I glance around nervously. He did say he didn’t want me to finish, so what now? “My closet is in the bedroom around the corner, just grab some jeans and a sweater,” he says completely unruffled. What kind of super power enables him to be taken to the brink of climax without reaching the ultimate goal? He reads my expression. “I am well trained in discipline no need to worry. That felt fucking amazing Imani but I want to pleasure you first. Anticipation is the best aphrodisiac.” He winks at me while I stand there staring like an idiot.

  “Ok…” If that’s how he feels who am I to argue? He must be right about anticipation though because I am utterly turned on. I easily choose a pair of soft distressed jeans and a thick cable knit sweater from his organized closet. He dresses himself for the most part but he allows me to shave his face. I think he enjoys the intimacy of the act; it gives him an opportunity to really look at me while I’m concentrating on his skin. Ready to start our first day at home together we make our way to the dining room for breakfast. “I need to charge my phone.”

  “Next to my bed there is a charger that will work with your phone. Wasn’t there one in your room? I told Mr. Black to make sure you had everything you could possibly need.”

  “Oh, no I didn’t even look, I didn’t spend much time in there you know. Hey, did Mr. Black bring me these clothes?”

  “No, you can thank Maria for that, she knows your size and what I like.” For some reason that reminds me of Elijah. “Where’s Elijah been? I haven’t seen him for a while.” “I sent him to Milan, I travel once a month to a different Dominus location, he went in my place.”

  “How did you get started with the restaurant thing?” I ask, pushing my food around on my plate. I’m still curious how someone become this wealthy. Money’s not really my thing. It’s nice, but all I’ve ever wanted is to be able to support myself, live comfortably, pay the bills and have a little savings. All of which I’ve achieved, anything beyond that seems extravagant…. and Marcus is the epitome of extravagant.

  “I was born and raised in Italy, technically I’m a Duke,” he says that while wiggling his eyebrows mischievously.

  “Duke, like of Italy or something?”

  “By lineage yes, I have no real ties or responsibilities, just the title. Anyway, my aunt taught me how to cook, my mother was not much for feeding her children,” he says with disgust. “I am quite good at it actually, when she died she left me everything she had, and she had a lot. It allowed me to open Dominus but that was not enough. She was everything to me and I wanted nothing more than to continue honoring her with my success. I expanded all over Europe and then to then the U.S.” “My aunt was blind, she could not see with her eyes but she always saw me with her heart,” he says with reverence. I’m taken with the adoring way he refers to his late aunt, my heart aches for his loss. When we are finished eating I help him move into the living room where I arrange him on the couch in front of the fireplace.

  “Comfortable?” I ask.

  “Yes, we need to plan out our day, I am going to Dominus to check on things while Elijah is out of town.” I open my mouth to argue but quickly realize it’s futile; he’s smug because he knows that I’m finally catching on to how things work around here.

  “And we can fit in an appointment at the hospital right?”

  “Yes Imani, I always keep up my end of a bargain.” He’s not happy about going to the hospital, but I couldn’t care less. I have a deep desire to protect him, even if it is from himself.

  “What’s with the enormous fireplace anyway? You could cremate someone in there.”

  “I do everything big Imani, you may as well get used to it.” Yea well, after his shower this morning I’d have to agree with that statement.

  “Ok Mr. Big I’m going to charge my phone and make your appointment, can I get you anything?” Oh damn that smirk is back and this time he cocks his head to the side stirring up the butterflies in my tummy. I wish we could get to the ‘me first’ part right now. Face flushed, I turn to go charge my phone and he calls out after me, “Imani.” I stop but I don’t turn around. “I love watching that beautiful ass of yours.” Smiling I put a little shake in my hips just for him and he chuckles softly. Is there such a thing as death by anticipation? If so I’ll be in the ground by noon!

  Chapter 16

  Shit! After my phone has charged just enough to power on, the texts start chiming in, one after a
nother. Mom, Latoya and Lana… there are multiple from each of them. I call Latoya first and apologize for not showing up to see the kids and do my best to explain the situation with Marcus. I listen as she gives me a fair amount of shit for taking a leave of absence from my job out of the blue for a perfect stranger. If she only knew. I reassure her it’s all been taken care of legally with the hospital and that I am comfortable working for Marcus. She’s not buying it, but she doesn’t say anything more knowing all too well how stubborn I am. On to my mother and another explanation of my new temporary life situation, she plays twenty questions asking about Marcus’s full name, occupation and address. I know she’s going to hang up and Google him immediately, and knowing her she’ll probably call a private investigator. She won’t be finding much, been there and tried that. Satisfied that I’m alive, although suspicious of the arrangement, she lets me go on the condition that I promise to keep my phone charged and within my reach at all times. She throws in a reminder of the emergency 911 buttons on the phone…oh my God, mother! Then with trepidation I dial Lana. She’s furious, overwhelmingly concerned and over the top as usual. “You moved in with him?!!” she shrieks.

  “I just explained this to you Lana. I’m doing home health care for him temporarily,” I try to reassure her.

  “This guy is hot isn’t he? What’s his name again? I’m gonna look him up and see what kind of fire you’re playing with. Don’t get me wrong; I’m over the moon that you’re involved with someone, but you really need to be careful. I can’t believe you quit your job!” she continues in her hysterical tone.