Lost In Paradise: A Billionaire Romance

by Erika Rose

  “Check!” Jason’s had was in the air, his eyes scanning for the closest waiter to get his attention.

  The drive home was silent, both lost in their own thoughts and desires. There wasn’t even a thought of switching on the radio. They were both counting the seconds before they would be home, feasting on each other. Neither of them thought of the house differently. Tonight it was their home.

  When Jason pulled up in front of the house, he glanced at Mia cautiously, afraid she would’ve changed her mind. Mia held his gaze, and smiled slowly as she licked her lips. “One night, no regrets.”

  Chapter 16

  A short while later, Jason opened the door wide enough to see what had taken him so long. Etta James started crooning through the overhead speakers as Mia saw the whole room was enlightened with candles. The scents drifted to her: cinnamon, berries, orange and musk. Mia knew it would be a night she would never forget. Jason held his hand out to her. She walked in leaving all her doubts outside the door.

  Without a word, Jason started dancing with her slowly, their bodies moving closer with each step until her thigh was nestled between his legs, and her head rested on his shoulder. She felt a tear slip down cheek, when Jason pulled away. “Don’t cry baby, not tonight.” He kissed away the tear, and trailed the kisses to her mouth where she welcomed him gladly. His touch was soft and sacred as his hands roamed over her body. Mia pushed down the emotion and focused on Jason. She let her fingers cruise the ridges of his back before settling on his rear. She could feel a slow heat start to build and breathed deeply to make it last. Jason stepped back and took her hands in his face, “I know you don’t want to admit to having feelings for me, but this,” his thumb grazed her bottom lip, “tells me you do.”

  Mia didn’t want to admit anything. She didn’t want Jason giving it all up for her and then end up blaming her one day for all he had sacrificed. When he came to her she wanted him to be a free man, free to make his own decisions, free to love her and then she would tell him exactly how much he meant to her. But tonight, tonight she would show him.

  She slipped the dress off her shoulders and as soon as it was free she let it float down her body. She was standing in front of him wearing her high heels and lace underwear. As his eyes trailed over her body leaving a hot streak of desire burning in their wake, tonight she wasn’t shy. She wasn’t afraid, she felt loved. She reached behind her and undid the fastening of her bra, then bent to slip out of her panties and let the bra drop to the floor at the same time. She had never been stick thin and had always hoped to lose just a few more pounds, but when Jason looked at her with love in his eyes, she felt perfect. She stepped towards Jason and reached for the first button.

  Jason had known tonight would be different, special somehow. He hadn’t known it would tug at his heartstrings and make him yearn for more than he could ever have. Mia was beautiful in the candlelight wearing only heels. When he was younger he had fantasies any young boy had, but he had never fantasized about a dark-haired girl naked in high heels undoing his buttons, and yet she exceeded every fantasy he had ever had. As her hands moved lower, he caught his breath as her hand grazed low on his belly. She slowly pushed the shirt off his shoulders, and focused on his trousers. Her touch was tentative, her breathing shallow. When she slipped down his trousers, he reached down and rid himself of his shoes. He stood in front of her completely naked, and felt accepted. Not for his money or his empire, but for who he was. Mia smiled at him wickedly as she kneeled in front of him, “Mia you don’t have to.”

  Mia took him in her hands and smiled up at him. “Let me.” She reached around massaging his rear as she took him in her mouth. It was hot and wet and the sexiest thing he had ever seen. He knew this was her first time going down on a man, and yet she did it with poise. Jason didn’t miss the fact that she must feel something for him if she touched him like that. She used just the right pressure, just the right touch. Teasing, licking, and sucking. Jason gasped as her hand closed around him urging him deeper.

  Mia had never thought she’d enjoy it, but with Jason everything was different. Something she had always seen as dirty felt special. If she couldn’t tell him how she felt, she’d show him. She was just starting get her rhythm when Jason pulled her up. “If you do that one more time, it’ll all be over and there is too much I still want to do.”

  He led her to the bed and lay down beside her. Mia sighed as his fingers circled her nipples before trailing down over her stomach. She turned and kissed him, deeply. All other sensations and needs were forgotten when their mouths met. They were saying all the things they weren’t allowed with slow kisses and long pauses. Jason swept into her mouth relishing the taste he had come to know, he nipped her tongue softly before running his tongue along her lips.

  Mia moaned as want started to throb between her legs, and as he sensed it he trailed his kisses down her body. When his tongue circled her belly she felt the sensation shoot straight to her groin where the fire was blazing with desire. Jason smiled as he felt her stiffen and moved even lower. He kissed the inside of her thighs, warm moist kisses leaving her reeling. Mia grabbed the sheets for support as she felt his warm breath on her swollen folds. Jason gently probed the folds apart with his tongue as he gripped her hips. His assault was slow, torturing, teasing. Flicking, licking and sucking.

  She reached for his hand, needing him inside her, he obliged by thrusting his finger deep inside to stimulate her even more. As she felt the first wave start to build, emotion thickened her throat again, she pushed it down and cherished every moment. She glanced down to where Jason was nestled between her legs and caught his gaze on her face, something passed between them. Deeper that lust, more meaningful than desire. Jason smiled before continuing his assault on her hard nub. Mia felt the wave crescendo and break, leaving her shuddering with aftershocks. She felt Jason pull her into his arms and his soft breath on her ear, “I love you.”

  Without thinking, Mia wanted to show him more. She moved so she could straddle him. Once she was settled on his hips, his cock straining towards her, she smiled at him. “This is how I feel about you.” Mia lifted her hips and sank down on him enveloping every inch of his hard manhood. Jason gasped as he reached his hilt, grabbing Mia’s hips for support. Mia laughed at the feeling of being in control and started to move. At first it was slow and tentative until she found her groove. She set a pace that had Jason beading with sweat, she grinded and rode him mercilessly. He grabbed her breasts, wanting to feel more and rubbed her nipples with his thumbs. As he felt his own orgasm build, he bucked to meet her thrust for thrust, until they fell apart together. The spasms and quivers running through them, Mia sank down on Jason’s chest. His hands ran up and down her spine, wishing he could spend every night with her. No words were spoken, their touch had said enough. A long while later, when the quivers had stopped and were replaced with the warm fuzzy feeling of being loved, Jason turned on his side and pulled Mia against him, holding on for dear life. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, knowing it was the last time they could.

  They woke slowly, clinging to each other and the last remnants of sleep trying their best to ignore the rays of morning sun shining through the window. Jason knew he had to pack and finalize the last few things before leaving for the airport. Mia knew she should let him. She felt his warmth nestled against her back and his hand cradling her breast, the flicker of desire fought through her sleepiness. She nudged her body against him, inviting him to make it last just a little longer. No words were said as Jason pulled her towards him and slowly started making love to her.

  “Are you all set?” Mia asked as Jason walked into the kitchen. She had left his warm bed and embrace a few hours before. After showering and forcing herself to hold back her tears until he was gone, she had headed back to the house to make him breakfast. She was wearing a bright smile and hope it hid the sadness that lurked beneath.

  Jason placed his bag on the counter and sat down. “It seems like it, if I need anything I�
�ll send for it.”

  “That’ll be fine, I’ll inform the new caretaker.” Mia looked out the window as she spoke, “I’m interviewing a few next week. As soon as I choose one, I’ll ask her to start straight away. I’ll start moving my things out this week.”

  “You’re welcome to stay.”

  “Stay and do what? Watch you bring back your wife, take her to the bedroom where we made love, serve you food in the dining room you ravished me?”

  “Mia…”

  “I can’t Jason, ask me anything but don’t ask me to stay and watch you live a happy life with her. Ask me anything but that.”

  “Mia,” Jason’s eyes pleaded with her. “Please just tell me what to do. Should I cancel the wedding?”

  Mia searched his eyes. She found love and all the things she had ever dreamed of in them. She took a deep breath before answering, “You made a promise Jason, and you should keep it.”

  “Don’t dammit, don’t tell me that. Tell me you love me. Tell me you want to spend your life with me in this house we’ve created together. Tell me anything except don’t tell me to leave you.”

  “I can’t.” Her voice was soft. She didn’t want Jason to leave Angelique because she asked him to. The same battle played over and over in her mind. She didn’t want to be the other woman. Even though she had never loved anyone more, or felt accepted more than by his family, she couldn’t intrude. She couldn’t trample someone else’s dreams while reaching for her own. She would make her own life, her own happiness. It might not be as special as a life with Jason would’ve been, but at least she would have the memory of last night to keep her warm at night for years to come.

  Jason slammed his fist down on the counter, “This didn’t mean nothing, this wasn’t nothing. These few months have meant more to me than years with her, I know what we have is real. I just want you to admit it.” His voice was laced with anger, his eyes determined.

  She picked up a small jar of pebbles and handed it to him, “I’d like you to have this, and I know it’s not worth anything, but hopefully they’ll remind you of me sometimes.”

  He took the jar and looked at it for a while turning it in his hand, “I don’t anything to remind me of you. Every time it rains, I’ll think about the night we made love during a thunder storm. Every time I sit down at a dining table, I’ll think of how I ravished you on top of it. Every time I sit down at my desk to work, I’ll think about you and how I fucked you seven ways into Sunday instead of working.”

  Mia’s breath caught at his crude language, ‘Don’t Jason.”

  “Don’t what? Don’t tell you that I love you? I love you Mia! Deal with it!”

  “I can’t.”

  “No, you can,” Jason said picking up his bag and his keys, “You just don’t want to.” He walked out the door without even a back glance. Mia felt her heart weep.

  Chapter 17

  Jason sat in his high rise office building overlooking San Francisco. His wedding was in just a few days. He was supposed to be happy, but somehow ever since he had walked out of the house on North Shore nothing had been right again.

  The sky didn’t seem as blue, and the food didn’t taste that good. The noise and pace of the city he had always loved, now annoyed him mercilessly.

  He found himself at odd times of day or night standing on the balcony at either his apartment or at the office, staring out to the ocean, and wondering what Mia was doing across the ocean. He was constantly irritated by his assistant bothering him with minor details. It hadn’t been necessary when he was away, so why bother him with it now?

  When he first came back and walked into the sleek apartment he shared with Angelique, it didn’t even feel like home. The furniture was uncomfortable, the kitchen too modern. His apartment held none of the warmth his house in Hawaii did. It didn’t feel welcoming, in fact it felt intimidating and after Angelique had started decorating it, it was even worse. The whole place had become a showcase of their wealth. It was as if even his apartment expected him to only be the billionaire he was, without any depth or personality.

  Angelique’s shrill voice and random demands had him zoning out whenever she talked to him. He knew it was wrong, he knew he should pay attention, besides the fact that it was good manners, it was his fiancée. On more than one occasion she had to call his name a few times to gain his attention. The only way he could describe the feeling he was constantly experiencing was as if he had lost a limb. Something important, needed and valued was suddenly simply missing from his life.

  He pushed the thought aside that that something was Mia, how could it be? He knew her barely more than a few months, and she didn’t know this Jason at all. The Jason who barked orders, who bought and sold companies like it was nothing, the Jason who went to charity dinners with a supermodel on his arm.

  No, she didn’t know this Jason. And he loved her even more for it. She knew the barefoot guy that sat on the deck and planned a house. The Jason that was spontaneous and fun. Where was that guy?

  He had tried one evening to be spontaneous and hopefully reignite his love for Angelique by getting into the shower with her. Besides the fact that she shrieked and then scolded him because her hair was getting wet, he found nothing desirable about her anymore. Sure she was beautiful, she had the looks, the long blonde hair, the perfect pout. But she was lacking substance. She lacked kindness, humbleness, innocence, all traits that Jason had fell in love with in Hawaii. Making love had become more than a physical act. After his tie with Mia he looked at it as sacred. Something shared between people who mutually respected and loved each other. He couldn’t expect Angelique to change her whole personality because he had an affair, which she still didn’t know about. But he also struggled to find the things he fell in love with in the first place. There was nothing sweet about Angelique. He found her demanding, high-handed and shallow. Since he had stepped into that shower weeks ago, he hadn’t even attempted to try and make love to her again. When she questioned him, he said they should save it for their wedding night. It had already been a few months, what difference would a few more make? He knew he was lying to himself and to her, but he couldn’t. He found his guilt oddly reversed. It felt like he was betraying Mia.

  His parents had asked him about Mia twice since he returned and both times he had glared at them indicating that was not up for discussion.

  “Jason, call on line two.” His assistant’s voice through the intercom brought him back to the moment. He had work to do.

  Jason swiveled his chair back to his desk and picked up the phone, struggling to push the plaguing thoughts aside. “Jason Pike speaking.”

  “Mr. Pike. I didn’t think you’d personally take my call,” came a smoky female voice.

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Well, rumor has it your assistant decides who you speak to and to whom you don’t.”

  Jason frowned and wondered why his assistant would put someone through without checking with him first. “Well you’re on the line now, so what can I do for you?”

  “My boss gave me a script some weeks ago and asked me to read it as a personal favor to you, our new owner.”

  Mia. The memory suddenly shed a lot of light on his confusion. Mia’s manuscript. “Are you the editor?”

  “Indeed I am, Mr. Pike. Now I have a question for you. How long have you been writing?”

  Jason couldn’t help but laugh, there wasn’t a name on the manuscript and obviously they had thought it was his. “Except for emails, never. The manuscript belongs to a friend of mine. She doesn’t know I sent it to you. I just wanted to find out if she was any good.”

  “Well that is interesting.” The smoky voiced laughed. “As for your question, I’m not going to tell you she has talent. I’m going to ask you where I can find her. I’d like to offer her a three book deal.”

  Jason laughed, for the first time in weeks. He felt his chest lighten with happiness. Although Mia was now in his past he couldn’t help but feel elated and proud of her. “S
o she has talent?”

  “Yes, she does, heaps!”

  Jason thought of Mia and how independent she had always been. She wouldn’t expect or appreciate any favors. He still needed to figure out how to tell he had stolen her manuscript. “Miss? Sorry I didn’t get your name.”

  “Penelope.”

  “Right, Penelope, please call me Jason.”

  “All right, Jason.”

  “I’m going to take down your details and give it to my friend. Her name is Mia Kanu and she lives in Hawaii. If she’s interested in your deal, she’ll get in touch. You two can sort out the details yourself. My part in this has come to an end.”

  “Fine, I must say I thought you’d push us on meeting her.”

  “No, she’s a very special yet sometimes hard headed woman. This should be her decision.”

  “I must say Jason. You’re nothing like your fiancée says you are?”

  The wind was temporarily knocked out of his sails, “You know Angelique?”

  “Yes, unfortunately. Sorry about that, but we have some mutual friends. Let’s just say she’s not my type of person.”

  “I’m not sure how to respond to that, so I’ll just say take care.”

  “You too Jason, good luck with the wedding.”

  Confused by her statement and Angelique’s words and being happy for Mia, Jason pushed both women from his mind and tried to get some work done.

  Mia sat cross-legged on Alana and Miku’s couch and typed as fast as her fingers let her. Ever since Jason had left she had felt raw with emotion. The only way she could find to soothe her was by writing. She had nearly finished an entire book since he had left, and with every word pouring out of her she missed him even more. She had found a caretaker for his house within a week of his departure. She spent another week doing the handover, and saying goodbye to Jason and his house. It was the hardest thing she had ever done. When she had driven out of the estate, she had to stop and wait for her tears to subside. She couldn’t even see the road through the waterfall streaming from her eyes. Her chest had hurt as if it was torn open. She had moved onto Alana’s couch, and basically lived out of her car as there weren’t spare wardrobes in her friend’s house. Subconsciously she knew she should move on and get over it. But she didn’t find it that easy. The smell of rain, the sound of construction, even her Jeep reminded her of him. The only way she believed she would be able to exorcise herself of Jason was to move to another country, like China, which bore no memories of her time with him. But at the same time, she hung onto each memory cherishing it like it was her only life line. She missed him so much it felt as if her heart was physically tearing apart in her chest at times. She had cried so many times she was certain she was going to dehydrate herself if she didn’t stop. So she wrote. She spent each waking moment writing, thinking about writing and trying her best to forget about a tall blonde billionaire with ice blue eyes.