Adam and Dylan would not see it like that.
Astrid asked the waitress to bring more Scotch. “Want some?” she asked Jake.
“Not while I’m working,” he said. “I’ll stick to the beer.”
She eyed him up. “You’re working?”
Shit, how had he let that slip? He was always so careful. What was this woman doing to him?
The waitress brought over another double, and Astrid downed it again. Jake watched her with fascination. She seemed so uptight, yet vulnerable. He wanted to comfort her, to kiss her… to fuck her all night long.
“Men,” she slurred. “Men are all bloody bastards.”
“Some men are okay,” he said, not meaning himself. He didn’t treat women badly – he just never seemed to connect with them on anything more than a physical level. There was too much shit from his past holding him back. And usually they only wanted him for his good looks and abilities in bed. What else could he offer? He wasn’t sure. He certainly couldn’t give Astrid what she wanted.
He listened to her rant. She was cute when she was angry…
“My ex-boyfriend’s a bastard. Cole Graves is a bastard. And those smug asshole Quinlan brothers. They were put on this earth to make my life a misery, I swear.”
“You don’t like the Quinlans?”
She squinted drunkenly at him. “I can’t talk about it.”
“Okay.” He allowed the silence to hang between them. When he’d been a cop he’d always been an expert interrogator – because of the things he didn’t say and the times he knew when to remain quiet. He was a good detective – could’ve been a great detective if they hadn’t kicked him off the force.
The waitress brought over another drink for Astrid. This time she cradled it. “There’s this new technology the Quinlans are investing in – or which they want to invest in. My job as a federal health-and-safety inspector is to check the safety of the project, but they’re ignoring me as if I’m an inconvenience. They treat me like the enemy, but the government just wants to protect the people of America. Why don’t they understand that?”
Jake tried not to let his guilt tear him apart. “I’m sorry to hear they’re giving you such a hard time, Astrid.”
She rested her elbow on the table, and her chin on her hand, and sighed heavily. Then her face suddenly lit up. “Oh, I love this song!”
Jake listened. He loved this song too. “You wanna dance?” he asked.
She gazed at him in shock. “A guy who likes to dance? Man, you must be too good to be true.”
He chuckled. He’d always loved to dance, but a few weeks ago his kid brother Joseph had given him a few tips on how to look reasonably cool on the dancefloor. Now it was time to put them to the test.
He stood and offered his hand. “Come on, or the song’ll be over.”
She giggled and stood up. No one else in the bar was dancing – in fact, they were all watching the game on the huge TV suspended at the other end of the room.
Jake led Astrid a little way from their table, and they halted opposite each other. He reached out and put his arms around her, holding her securely. She stiffened.
“Relax,” he whispered.
Astrid stood on the spot. “I feel like a teenager at the prom.”
“Look into my eyes,” Jake said. “And enjoy yourself.”
He brushed his fingers across her cheek. She gasped at his touch, and it turned him on to see her so aroused. He smiled powerfully into her eyes, then he rested one hand on her shoulder, wrapping the other arm behind her waist.
She stepped forward so their bodies were pressing together.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
The saxophone solo kicked in, and they stepped in time together. Astrid swayed her hips and loosened up. Jake lowered his face and smiled into her eyes. He wished he could kiss her again – it felt natural to do so, but this time he had no excuse and he didn’t want to push her. She smelled so good – of honeysuckle and oranges. Arousal washed through him, but he knew he couldn’t have her – it was too complicated. This dance would be the end of their time together, and he’d go back to stalking her for his brothers like the sleaze he was.
The slow song faded and the next tune started up – which was much more upbeat, so Astrid stepped away and twirled her under his arm, then she twirled back into him and laughed, seeming free and relaxed. He smiled, glad he’d managed to take her mind off her problems and make her smile sincerely. But now he wanted to know what she looked like in bed, climaxing from the best orgasm she’d ever had – which he was desperate to give her.
They danced together for another few songs, moving in time to the music and enjoying the present moment in its entirety. Astrid’s cheeks flushed with a warm glow of happiness – and Scotch. She seemed out of breath from the dancing, so he gestured to their table. She nodded, then hugged him tight. “Thanks for the dance, Jake!”
“My pleasure.”
He wanted this evening to continue forever, but – like all good things– he knew it would end. They drifted to sit back down. He pulled out her chair.
She gazed at him. “So are you really for real?”
He laughed. “I think so.”
She remained standing. “Jake, will you take me home?”
Jake’s cock twitched in his pants at the suggestive tone in her voice. He’d gladly bend her over the table and fuck her here and now…
“In case Graves is still lurking…” she added.
“Sure, come on.”
Jake realized how drunk Astrid was as they left the bar and she swerved into him. He put his arm securely around her shoulders and she sunk into his body as they made their way to the parking garage, where his Ferrari was parked. Unlike his newly-found biological family, Jake had never had much money, and he refused to take handouts from them, despite how wealthy they were. But – as a ‘welcome’ gift – they’d given him this gorgeous car. He loved it, and he secretly hoped she’d be impressed. But at the moment, she was having trouble walking straight. She headed toward the driver’s side, so he guided her to the passenger side and opened the door for her. “I’ll drive,” he joked.
She laughed. “Sorry. Simon drove a British car. He was British. They drive on the other side. The British.”
“I know. Come on, get in.”
She slid drunkenly onto the passenger seat and Jake climbed into the driver’s side. He headed off for her end of town – which was only a couple of miles away, but where the property was less opulent and more rundown.
He pulled up outside her apartment building, yanking up the parking brake and trying to ignore his pounding lust. Thank god she was too drunk to realize she hadn’t actually told him where she lived.
She shot him a coy glance – twisting the arousal in his pants into a frenzy.
“Come in for a coffee?”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea, honey,” Jake said.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re drunk and emotional. And I’m not a sleazebag.”
She smiled shrewdly. “I know you’re not a sleazebag. Otherwise I wouldn’t invite you in, would I?”
She reached over and rested her hand on his thigh. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to resist. “I can’t,” he said.
“Just in case Graves is around,” she said. “Please. I’m afraid to go in there alone.”
Her logic spoke directly to his protective instincts, and he couldn’t argue. “All right. Let me find somewhere to park up.”
He parked the car, making sure it was properly alarmed in this rundown area, then they walked toward the apartment building. It was chilly out here and she hugged herself and gazed up at him, so he automatically put his arm around her to keep her warm – knowing he was being manipulated by those big blue eyes. She sunk into his body as they reached the entrance of her building.
“You’re very nice, Jake.”
“You don’t know me, sweetheart.”
“I’d like to.”
He pulled open the main entrance door. This building was a run-down concrete monstrosity, consisting of twenty floors, with an ugly rusting fire escape running all the way down the front. Jake had followed her home daily, and every evening he’d wanted to take her back to his place and let her sleep in his king-sized luxury bed – after making love to her all night long. His brothers were paying him well, and he was living in a penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park. It was a world away from this place, with its paper-thin walls and grubby foyer.
He halted near the entrance and glanced at the metal elevator, watching out for any lurking danger – as he always did. He was satisfied she was safe, so he bent to kiss her on the cheek, relishing how soft her skin was on his lips.
“Well, goodnight,” he said. “Nice to meet you, Astrid. I’ll see you around.”
She grabbed his jacket. “Come in.”
“That wouldn’t be a good idea.”
She laughed. “I told you – I’m not sleeping with you. I just…” She fell serious. “I’m scared to go up alone. What if Graves is up there waiting for me?”
The thought of abandoning her to Graves filled Jake with protective guilt. What harm would it do just to check she was safe and locked in for the night?
He was a strong-minded guy with enough willpower to say no to a beautiful woman…
Wasn’t he?
They traveled up in the elevator together, with the tension sizzling between them. He wanted this woman more than anything else on the planet right now. But he had to resist her. If he slept with her, not only would it be immoral because she was drunk, but also it would put the entire investigation – and probably her job – at risk. He refused to fuck up this project for his brothers, but mainly it was Astrid’s well-being he was thinking of.
What the fuck was happening to him?
The rickety elevator creaked to a halt at her floor and she shot him a shy smile. What was she thinking right now? Did she really just want to check there was no danger in her apartment? Or was she as attracted to him as he was to her?
He walked with her to the front door, then stepped inside. The apartment was exactly as he’d expected – cramped and old. The front door led directly to the living room, which was only just big enough to squeeze in the three-seater couch and coffee table. He couldn’t see a TV, but she seemed to work most nights anyway. The room was decorated in light tones in an attempt to make it look bigger, but the illusion wasn’t fooling Jake. He could see the kitchenette through an archway, and presumably the bedroom and bathroom were through those two doors. The high ceiling and large windows gave the place a slightly less crowded feel, but – in truth – this place was smaller than most hotel rooms his brothers would stay in on business trips.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“I should go down.”
She burst into laughter at his Freudian slip. “Oh really?”
“Down to the foyer… to my car.”
“Just stay for a coffee?”
He gazed at the couch. It looked invitingly comfortable, with a cream throw draped over it – probably disguising how decrepit it was.
She smiled sweetly. “It’s okay, I don’t bite.”
He chuckled. “Shame.”
He strolled over to the couch and sat down, making the springs beneath him boing – and making them both laugh. She sat next to him. “Jake, when you kissed me earlier…”
He gazed into her innocent eyes and realized he needed to put a stop to this right now. It didn’t matter what he wanted – he wasn’t what she was looking for, even if she didn’t yet know it.
He shrugged coolly. “It was just to make Graves think we were together.”
Disappointment flashed across her face. “I know. That’s what I thought. Thank you.”
She stared at him for a moment, and he tried to harden himself against her. He shifted position to get up and leave, but his heart melted with tender affection as her lip twitched with the onset of tears – which was quickly followed by a gushing sob. Oh shit… Crying women were his weakness – they had him in chains…
“Oh god,” he said. “Please don’t cry. Come here.” He wrapped her up in his arms and she crumpled into his chest, letting out her emotion and soaking his shirt with a deluge of tears.
He soothed her, holding her close and gently rocking, wishing he could take away the pain induced by Graves, his brothers, and her ex. All those men were making her feel bad, but for some reason she trusted Jake enough to break down in his arms like a vulnerable child.
The Scotch had probably helped. But really, she didn’t know him. He didn’t want to hurt her, so this couldn’t happen.
But she seemingly needed this release, and he was happy to oblige for now… There was another type of release he was keen to give her too, but he had to be strong and resist. He held her tight and kissed her on the head as her tears slowly faded, then she lay there on his chest, breathing peacefully. He glanced down and realized she’d fallen asleep, so he picked her up in his arms and carried her into the tiny bedroom, where he pulled back the covers and placed her on the bed, like a sleeping beauty.
She snuffled and smiled gently through half-closed eyes. “Goodnight, Jake.”
Unable to resist, he kissed her on the lips and watched her for a moment. “Bye, Astrid. Nice knowing you.”
He turned around and went back down to his car, trying to shake off the gnawing feeling of disappointment from knowing he could never have her. He climbed back into his Ferrari, then gazed at himself in the rear-view mirror, trying to figure out whether he was a class-A sleaze for what he was doing to her, or just a minor one for not taking advantage.
He shook away his guilt and drove to his own apartment back in Manhattan. It was a gorgeous place to live – better than he could’ve ever imagined he’d end up. The rent for this luxury pad was crazy money, and he was grateful he could afford it, but it was like living in the pages of a home-furnishings catalogue. The huge squashy couches were like sitting on a cloud, but the cream fittings, beige carpets, and angular furniture made relaxation difficult. It was bland and impersonal, and far too big for him rattling around here alone.
And it didn’t have Astrid in it.
Jake padded into the luxury marble bathroom and turned on the powerful shower, then he undressed, feeling the lust in his cock throb hard. He stood under the flow of warm water and lathered up the soap in his hands, then he gripped one hand around his erection and the other around his balls. It was such a relief to be able to touch himself. He’d wanted Astrid so badly, but there was no way, not while she was drunk and emotional. Or – in fact – ever. There was too much at stake to get close to her. Even if they weren’t both involved with the Quinlan Brothers investigation, she was far too sweet for a guy like him. She’d just have to stay as his fantasy…
He slid his soapy hand up and down the shaft of his cock, and imagined he was out in the tropical rain, standing naked on a secluded luxury beach. Astrid was there, dressed in a negligee, looking incredible. Her body was curvy and her breasts were plump, and she was more confident than usual – something had changed in her and he hoped it was something he’d incited.
“Hey, baby,” she purred, walking towards him. “Let me take care of you.”
She kissed him and took his cock in her hand, fondling him and rubbing soap suds into her silky negligee, which was becoming wet from the warm rain.
“So good,” he whispered, touching her breasts through the silky material.
She threw him a mischievous grin, kissed him hard, then dropped to her knees in front of him. “Allow me to blow your mind.”
Her red lips wrapped around the tip of his cock and she licked off the pre-cum. Still pumping his shaft in her fingers, she moved her face away and teased his balls in her lips, making horny grunts as she licked and sucked.
“Mmm… tastes so good,” she purred.
She knelt up and gazed into his eyes, then she moved his throbbing cock toward he
r cleavage and rubbed it between her breasts.
“Jesus, I’m gonna come…” Jake said. Back in reality, under the shower, he let go his balls and leaned his hand heavily on the wall-tiles, as he continued to frantically jerk off with his other hand.
His eyes scrunched tight and Astrid was there again, sucking him off – her head bobbing; lips sliding up and down his shaft; taking him deep.
He groaned as he shot his load in her mouth – and all over his hand in reality.
The room rang with silence – other than the whooshing sound of the shower. He cleaned the discharge off his fingers, feeling empty and dirty somehow.
He wanted that woman so bad – but he knew he could never give her what she deserved.
He turned off the shower and dried himself with a soft towel, wishing she was here so he could make love to her in reality. But for now, he’d just have to make do with his fantasies.
Chapter Three
The next morning, Astrid awoke in her cramped apartment, and groaned. Her head throbbed with a hangover from hell, and the sunlight stabbed her eyes through the open drapes. She shifted her weight slowly, causing an errant mattress spring to poke painfully into her back.
“Ow!”
But actually, her physical discomfort was the least of her worries. She scrunched up her eyes and tried to think… What had she done last night to get into this state? Consciousness trickled in and a dreaded memory drifted cruelly back. Jake… Oh god, she’d been so drunk! Had she really thrown herself at him like that? Her cheeks flushed red from embarrassment. The way she’d kept hinting that she liked him… and he’d kept saying no. He must’ve thought she was such a sad loser. Humiliation buzzed in her brain and she groaned again.
She wanted to go back to sleep – to bury herself under the comforter and never emerge, but she had an important meeting with the Quinlan Brothers this morning… Cole Graves, oh god… There was no way he was going to get away with trying to intimidate and bribe her last night. She planned to tell Adam and Dylan exactly what had happened… at least, she’d tell them everything up until she’d downed that first Scotch.
The Billionaire's Secret: Billionaire Obsession (Tycoon Billionaires Book 5) Page 2
