Stood Up (Billionaire Up #1)

by Ryan Michele

  “Hey,” Aiden calls from the doorway, my head snapping to her. Everything stops. The world. My breaths. My heartbeat. Time. Movement. Everything. She’s stunning and Randolph is right, there isn’t a word for it. I think she’s beautiful with zero makeup on and her hair messed from me fucking her all night. This, this is beyond a dream.

  Her red dress accentuates all of her curves, and the low neckline gives a fantastic view of her cleavage. It’s strapless so all her creamy skin is exposed. Instantly, I regret buying the dress. All those assholes there tonight will be looking at her the same way they were at the restaurant when we met. But she’s with you and only you. That thought has my stunned face turning into a smile.

  Her apprehensive steps tell me of her uncertainty. I reach out my hand to hers, and she places her delicate one inside.

  “I have no words.”

  Her brows crease.

  “No, Aiden. It’s beyond a beauty I couldn’t have dreamt up.”

  Her smile radiates. “You’re not so bad yourself, handsome.” I move to kiss her and she backs up, startling me. “Oh no you don’t, mister. It took Randolph like, forever to get these lips right. Don’t you dare.”

  I only smirk then pull her hard to me and kiss her. It takes Randolph another ten minutes to put her back together again, but I’m not sure why he bothered because it’ll be gone by the time we get there.

  The gala is an over the top donation fest, but I come because it’s for an old friend, Luca. Aiden fits in perfectly with everyone she meets and is introduced to. She handles everything with a grace and ease that I admire.

  “Mr. James.” Aiden says surprised. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

  Brantley gives a smirk of a smile. It’s not one where I want to punch his lights out for oogling my woman, but more of humor.

  “Good to see you can dress in something other than jeans.”

  Aiden scoffs. “You have a hang up with my clothes.”

  Brantley shrugs and turns to me holding out his hand. “Mason.”

  “Brantley. You obviously know Aiden.”

  “Got yourself a real catch in that one, Mason. Do yourself a favor and don’t let it go.”

  Brantley doesn’t allow me to respond because he walks away and disappears into the crowd.

  “That was weird.”

  “It’s Brantley.”

  After dinner, I grab Aiden’s hand and pull her out to the back of the huge home.

  “Where are we going?” she says, giggling.

  “I want to show you something.”

  The back of the house is dark. All because Luca doesn’t want anyone going back here. He won’t mind me and Aiden here, though.

  Aiden halts, and I know she sees it. “Wow.”

  I look up to the sky at all of the stars. “Yes, it’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Constellations fill the sky as I lead Aiden to a nearby swing, and we take a seat. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, and she snuggles in next to me. She fits me absolutely perfectly.

  “They are. When I was a kid, I’d dream about going to another planet and living there. Away from everything, just for a while.”

  I chuckle. “I have a telescope at the house. I’ll show you everything I’ve learned.” Explaining the different constellations and stars is like a cloak of contentment, bringing me back to my childhood and getting to experience it with Aiden.

  “This is really awesome, Mason.” She turns to me and away from the night sky. “You’re pretty awesome.”

  My hand goes to the side of her cheek, feeling her warmth. I look deep in her eyes. “You know I’m falling in love with you.”

  Tears well in her eyes. “You know I’m falling in love with you,” she repeats the words back to me. I kiss her under the stars and can’t wait for our journey together.

  Chapter 18

  Aiden

  Mason’s lips tease my legs up and up all the while his hands knead and rub them in time. I love his hands on me, love the feel of him against me. Hell, I full out love this man.

  He’s done nothing but be the man I’ve always wanted, yet something is niggling in the back of my mind. I push it away and focus on his touch. He has this sensual way of making every part of my skin come alive with just a brush of his fingertips, add in the rubbing and kisses and I’m about to come undone.

  He ever so slowly makes his way up, totally missing my wet heat begging for his touch. His lips move around my stomach and up to my breasts where he engulfs them into his mouth. One then the other, then the other until I’m wiggling so much under him that I feel like I’m losing control of my body and limbs.

  Only then does he stop and move up my neck, my fingertips digging hard into his flesh.

  “Mason,” I gasp.

  “You’re pussy ready for me. Hot. Wet. Needy?”

  I groan, “Yes, please.”

  Spreading my legs wide, he fits like he was made to be there, made to be mine. He comes up to me, his lips eating mine up, his hard length right there ready and waiting.

  Mason looks deep into my eyes, and I swear he can see my soul that is right now screaming—I love you so damn much. His arms come to the sides of my face, capturing me as he slides inside of me. My back arches as my body tries to accommodate him. Even after as many times as we’ve had sex, my body still needs to adjust to his length, and I love every damn second of it.

  “This pussy was made for me, Aiden. You were destined for me. I love you.” He kisses me before I can respond, and I’m aching to tell him. Really tell him with words how much I care for him.

  Unfortunately, I can’t because he continues to kiss me all the while making love to me, sweet and slow. The burn builds slowing, festering, antagonizing.

  Ripping my lips from his, I urge, “I need you to move, now, Mason.”

  He chuckles and leans down, kissing me once more. It doesn’t take long before we’re both panting out our releases and falling down to the bed. My body feels sated and loved, more than I could have ever asked for.

  My head lay on his chest. I listen to his heartbeat and feel the rise and fall of his chest. With my fingers, I trace the definition in his chest.

  That little tick in the back of my head starts to get louder. Mason has never given me a reason to doubt his trust. He’s always been upfront and honest with me, with anything I’ve asked. I just don’t want to have any doubts. Being the problem solver I am, I think I know the answer. It won’t change how I feel about him, but if he lies, that could break everything.

  I don’t want to set myself up for failure, but I have to believe he’ll come clean.

  “Mason?”

  “Yeah, baby.”

  “I gotta ask you something.”

  His arm around me squeezes. “You can ask me anything.”

  I suck in a deep breath and go for it. “That night at the restaurant. Did you set that up?”

  “Why would you think that?” he asks, still tracing the line of my shoulder blade with his fingertips.

  “The pieces of the puzzle,” I state firmly. “Drake works for you. He said that you made him work late. It can’t be a coincidence that happened on the exact day and time as our date.”

  He chuckles, his body moving with it. I lift my head and rest my chin on his chest. Giving him an expectant look, he kisses my forehead, then lays back down.

  “My little problem solver. The night at the restaurant wasn’t the first time I saw you. The first time was at Brad’s house for his housewarming party. You were running around making sure all the food was laid out perfectly, all the while people mingled and talked.”

  I think back hard to that night. “I don’t remember seeing you there.”

  “I only slipped in to give him and Lila a bottle of wine, then left—but I saw you,” he pauses in thought, and I wait. “I overheard Brad and Drake talking. Drake isn’t the man you need. I am. Looking back now, I knew it then, but I didn’t want to acknowledge it. There’s just something about you, Aiden.”

  “So,
you overheard Drake and Brad about our date and then made him work late so he’d miss it?” I’m not sure if I should be freaked out about this or utterly mesmerized by it.

  “I can’t explain why, but yeah, I did it. Then when you showed up at the restaurant, I made my move.”

  “And you knew then I was the one for you?” I query.

  “No.” My heart sinks a bit, but I wait for him to go on. “It wasn’t until I hadn’t had you for four days. When your smell left my pillow and your presence in my home began to fade. That—that was when I knew.”

  “I’m not sure whether to be pissed at what you did or think it’s sweet.”

  “I’ll go with sweet.” He hoists me up his body so our faces align and rolls so our heads are resting on the pillow. “It happened the way it did; would you have it any other way now, Aiden?”

  A rush of warmth hits me as I look into his sea green eyes, the ones that pulled me in at first contact. He didn’t lie to me about it and told me everything honestly. That’s what I need. I need him.

  “No, I love you, Mason.”

  His smile is wide. “And I love you, Aiden.”

  “This is really real?” I ask, a little taken aback by the gravity of this moment.

  “Baby, this is as real as it gets.” Mason reaches over and grabs my head. “I wouldn’t change a damn thing.” His lips touch mine, and I agree with him. Even as twisted as it is, I wouldn’t change a damn thing either.

  Chapter 19

  Mason

  “Drake’s gone for good.” Eli tells me sitting across from me in my office. “He’s packed and moved home. After we talked to him, I have no doubt he won’t be back.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “No one can ever be one hundred percent, Mr. Dean, but from my years of experience, I think he’s gone for good.”

  “Perfect. What about this Greg.”

  “After looking into him thoroughly, I don’t see any cause for concern. He may be a pain in her ass for a while, but I don’t see a threat. It’s been a week plus and he hasn’t made any contact with Aiden. Our talk after escorting him out of the restaurant, seemed to do the trick.”

  “I like your talks.”

  “It’s why you pay me the big bucks.” He smirks something he doesn’t do often.

  “All in all, sounds good. Keep me updated if anything changes.”

  “Absolutely.” He leaves and a weight comes off my shoulders. Aiden is safe and wills stay that way.

  Work is never ending.

  When a knock comes to my door, I call out for them to enter and don’t look up right away because the finishing touches on this contract are just about ironed out.

  The smell hits me and my head pops up. Elizabeth stands in front of my desk wearing a tight as hell black dress, her hair curled all up and face done up like she’s going out clubbing.

  She smiles seductively and it isn’t a turn on in the least. Years it’s been since her and I were together and she still acts as if I want her. We were kids exploring, nothing has happened since. Ever.

  “Elizabeth, can I help you with something?”

  Her smile widens. “I want your cock in my mouth.”

  My brows raise. “That’s not going to happen and it’s completely unprofessional.”

  “You like to be unprofessional. I hear you took that woman here in your office. I came to erase her memory.”

  She’s lost her damn mind.

  “You need to leave my office. Now.” I warn as she leans over my desk, her breasts practically falling out of her top.

  “You don’t want me to. You love me Mason.”

  “No, I don’t.” I counter just as the door swings open.

  “Mason, I…” Aiden’s words are cut off and as I peer around Elizabeth, I watch as hurt and pain cross over Aiden’s features. She’s already had one asshole cheat on her so this can’t look good.

  I rise from my chair and move around the desk. Aiden’s eyes meet mine and I want to get rid of the pain. Make it disappear forever.

  “Aiden.” I start, but she shakes her head and her eyes change and turn to Elizabeth.

  “You didn’t get the message the other night.” She says calmly and I brace wondering what’s going to happen next.

  “He doesn’t want you. Look at you!” Elizabeth fires back and I move to Aiden’s side. She doesn’t shrug me away, but she doesn’t let me get a word in edge wise either.

  “Yes, please look at me. Look at the man next to me. You need to move on. I don’t know maybe with your husband? It’s over. Finished.”

  “He wants me.”

  Aiden looks to me. “Do you want her?”

  “No Aiden.”

  She turns back to Elizabeth. “And…”

  “And we have a history that can’t be denied.” Elizabeth fires back.

  “A long time ago.” I interject.

  “And I’m his future. You see that door, go and don’t come back.”

  “Go Elizabeth,” I order.

  “You know our fathers want us to be together.”

  To this I laugh. “No, our fathers didn’t. They wanted us to be happy and that’s not with us together. You’ve known this for years. You’re married Elizabeth. I could never trust you.”

  When I say the last words, Elizabeth flinches and tears well in her eyes. Trust has always been difficult for Elizabeth, but it’s of her own making, nothing to do with me.

  “You could.” She whispers.

  “Elizabeth, no I couldn’t. I didn’t when we were kids and I still don’t. You’re here out of a favor for my father, but after today, you’re done.”

  Surprise and shock hit her hard. “You can’t fire me.”

  “We’ll take it up with HR tomorrow.”

  “I’ll sue you.” She says quickly.

  “For what exactly?” Aiden asks. “For telling you he doesn’t want to be with you? For not taking your advances? This is on you, not him.”

  “Aiden, you can’t. Our fathers will be angry.” She tries.

  “That may be, but I’m done Elizabeth. I’d thought you’d get the point when you showed up uninvited to my home. Now you come to my office with this. I won’t work like this.”

  “I love you Mason.”

  The words are like acid in my veins. Elizabeth wouldn’t know what love was if it smacked her upside the head.

  “No, you don’t. This is over Elizabeth. We’ll discuss this with HR tomorrow.”

  Her face turns stony. “Don’t waste your time. I’ll pack my things. If you want her, then you’re not worth my time.”

  I say nothing because I just want her to get the hell out of here.

  After she sneers at Aiden, who gives her a little wave goodbye, she leaves and I pull Aiden in my arms.

  “I wasn’t doing anything Aiden.”

  Her arms come around my middle and she gives me a squeeze. She pulls away slightly and looks up at me.

  “I trust you Mason.”

  Those words are almost as good as hearing her tell me she loves me. I kiss her hard and deep. Then show her how much those words mean to me.

  Epilogue

  Mason—Six Months Later

  “Mason, are you sure you want all of my stuff here? Maybe I should put some of it in storage.” Aiden looks around my place, trying to decide what should go where. In all honesty, I don’t give a shit where she puts it as long as her body is in my bed every night from now on. It’s been there most nights anyway, and her moving in is the next logical step.

  She fought me on it, though. My independent woman wanted to have a space of her own just in case this didn’t work out. I knew enough for the both of us, though, and here we are taking the leap.

  I clutch the small black box in my pant pocket. Soon, I’ll be calling Aiden my wife.

  “We’ll make room.” I tell her, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her body. She shivers, and damn I love that.

  “Maybe I should sell some stuff or just give it to charit
y.”

  “Baby, you do whatever you want with it.” I bend down and kiss her neck, making a trail up to her ear. “As long as I’ve got you, nothing else matters.”

  She turns in my arms, her hands coming up to my face. “When’d you get so sweet?”

  “Been called a lot of things, but sweet isn’t one of them.”

  She leans up and touches her lips to mine. “You’re sweet to me.”

  “Only you.” Pulling away, I fall to one knee, pulling the ring out of my pocket, while she gasps. Opening the box and holding it to her, I say, “Aiden, didn’t know what love was until you came in my life. Never want to find out what I’m missing again. Do me the honor of becoming my wife.”

  Her hand flies to her mouth and tears well in her eyes. “Yes. Yes, Mason Dean.”

  A wide smile forms on my lips as I slip the ring on her finger, rise and take her mouth. Then I take her to bed and show her exactly how much I love her and want her to mine forever.

  Epilogue 2

  Aiden—Five Years Later

  “Mason!” I scream as loud as possible as I sit in the rocker my stomach clenching and unclenching. My breaths come in pants, and I’m unable to control them.

  “What?” he races into the room and kneels down on the floor.

  “Mommy?” Our little dark haired princess comes in behind him forever his shadow.

  “The baby is coming. I feel the head,” I tell him in a rush as the pressure below begins to get worse. “I can’t get up, Mason. What are we gonna do?”

  Fear builds up. When we had Ashlynn three years ago, I had a few problems. Nothing horrible, but at the time, we were scared as all hell. She turned out perfect, but this little boy inside of me is having nothing about getting to a nice sterile hospital. He wants out and now.

  “Shit.” Mason pulls out his phone. I hear him talking but breathe through another contraction as pain below hits intently. Parts of my body begin to stretch and pull.