Billionaire: Billionaire Romance: Billionaire Tiger (A Billionaire New Adult Shifter Contemporary Romance)

by Loretta Devine

  Then Leonardo spoke up. “No need to protect me Ms. Sterling. You were innocent in this matter. I seduced you and I mean to make it right,” he said sternly.

  Make it right? I thought.

  Mr. Holdsworth spoke next and said, “Since this happened under my household I hope that everyone present will keep this quiet so as not to cause scandal at my home and to my good name. After the marriage takes place it will seem like an innocent marriage and nothing more.”

  “Of course sir,” William said.

  “Marriage?!” I yelled out.

  “Don’t worry Eudora we will take care of everything and it can happen first thing in the morning. William has arranged everything and your reputation will remain intact,” Annabelle said comforting me and holding my hand.

  I was so confused. I looked to Leonardo for answers but he seldom looked at me. He stood stiff and dutiful to his patron. The men continued talking about me as though I was a business proposition. I sat there in shock trying to process everything. I was being married off to Leonardo, which was a dream come true for me, but not in this way. It was out of scandal and Leonardo had not professed his love for me. It was all so very wrong.

  Finally, everyone left and Annabelle told me to get some sleep so that I would be well rested. I went to my room and cried some more. I didn’t know what to make of all of this. It was very overwhelming. I finally fell asleep.

  I awoke to Annabelle in my room rushing around with a maid.

  “Oh good, you’re awake. We haven’t much time for tea. I have your dress brought in and the maid will do your hair. We are to be at church in two hours,” she said.

  It took me a moment to shake off the sleep and it all came rushing back to me. I was getting married today to Leonardo Drivatti the famous painter. He was being forced to marry me, or so it seemed, for seducing me. I was tormented, but I was powerless to stop it. I went through the motions of getting dressed. William and Annabelle were good enough to purchase a white lace wedding gown. It was simple but elegant and I loved it. The maid arranged my hair in a bun with small white flowers and ribbons. I slipped on my small white slippers and then was ready. I sat in the carriage with Annabelle and William silent on the way to the church clutching my small bouquet of flowers. I hoped that Leonardo would be happy to see me. I was so frightened.

  We arrived at the church. Walking inside Leonardo stood at the altar with the priest and Mr. Holdsworth at his side. Leonardo did not smile when he saw me. He still had a stern look on his face. I took a deep breath and the ceremony began. I was in a daze the whole time. Then it was over. Annabelle and William kissed me on the cheek.

  “The house is in the process of packing your trunks, but you will always have a place to stay with us Eudora,” Annabelle said tearfully. William hugged me and then we all walked outside the church. I had come in the carriage with Annabelle and William, but I was to leave in another carriage with Leonardo and Mr. Holdsworth.

  I stared at Leonardo sitting across from me. He only looked out the carriage window. Mr. Holdsworth was rattling on about staying at his estate and how then we would be off to Venice. I only half heard what he said.

  We pulled up to the estate and went inside. The maid led me up to my new rooms. I sat there and waited for my new husband for hours. I needed to talk to him. We had not spoken since I was here modelling for him and we had sex. Now I was his wife and confused and scared. I fell asleep on the bed in my wedding gown.

  The next morning I awoke to the sunrise. Leonardo was in my bed. He was fully clothed and stunk of brandy. He obviously drank himself into a stupor and deep sleep.

  “Leonardo,” I whispered as I nudged him trying to wake him. “Leonardo.”

  He stirred and finally awoke. He looked at me and touched my face and said, “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” I asked.

  “I have brought you into a forced marriage. I am a scoundrel, how can you ever live with me?”

  “It is not forced on my part. I want this. I want you,” I whispered.

  “But I took your innocence and made it so that you didn’t have a choice of your own. You could have married a noble man.”

  “I don’t want a stuffy noble man. I want a passionate artist, like you.”

  His face finally lightened and he smiled for the first time in a long time. “Do you really mean it?” he asked.

  “I do. I have thought of no one else since I first met you,” I said. “I am grateful, excited, I’m in love, and I am happy to be your wife. I don’t care if it were forced. I am just glad it happened.”

  He pulled me close to him and kissed me. I felt relief rush over me. This was why he had been so distant. He had thought that I was angry for everything that happened and being forced into marriage. He thought he had robbed me of having a good life with another, but that was not the case. This is what I wanted.

  That morning we finally had our wedding night. Leonardo took me once more like he had on the chaise lounge only now we had the entire day and night. We never left that room and took all our meals in there. He made love to me passionately and as my true husband. It was all I could dream for.

  Over the next week, I continued to model for him. It was strange to sit there. I first sat there as a model with my innocence in tact, when he began the painting. Now I sat as his wife as he finished the painting. It was very unusual. When it was done it was well received and considered a masterpiece. It hung in the gallery at the Royal Academy where we had first met. He titled the painting ‘Innocence Undone.’ I loved that our passionate love affair had been captured in that painting. There was so much story in it, and I almost felt like you could see it on my face in the painting. I cried every time I looked at it.

  After the painting exhibition Leonardo took me to his home in Venice. This was to be our permanent home and it was a grand palazzo on the canal. It was the most romantic setting in the world. This is where I, Eudora Drivatti, lived out my days and dreams with my husband, the passionate, sexy, and romantic painter Leonardo Drivatti.

  The Rogue Not Taken

  CHAPTER ONE

  The loud snow crunched under the carriage wheels as it drove on the busy cobblestone streets. The sun was setting and I was with my chaperone Aunt Elsie Swanson. She was talking about something that I could not really pay attention to as she seldom required a response. She would just ramble and I would nod my head every now and then. I sat there in a gorgeous dark emerald green dress with embroidery and glass beads with a large feathered bouquet in my hair. I was dressed appropriately for a night at the theatre. We would be attending the opera, sharing a theatre box with Aunt Elsie’s new neighbors who I had not met yet as I had only moved in with her a week prior from St. Louis.

  “Mina, sit up straight. You slouch. No proper woman slouches,” she slapped me on the leg.

  My back shot up straight as an arrow.

  “Sorry Aunt Elsie,” I said.

  The year was 1908 and I was still getting used to the illumination of the city at night. I had moved from St. Louis and that city had yet to catch up with the installation of electricity and the new streetlights. They hypnotized me.

  The carriage pulled up to the large theatre and waited in line. We were not to step out until directly in front of the door. Finally a footman opened our door and we stepped out. It was bustling with elegant men and women and the gowns and top hats were gorgeous. I smiled at it all and took a deep breath. My aunt took my arm and we walked inside.

  First we went to the refreshment room. I accepted a glass of champagne only after getting approval from my aunt. She immediately started talking to her peers and I was left alone to stand behind her. It was okay because I didn’t like the attention.

  I was placing the rim of the delicate glass in my mouth, when I felt like I was being watched. I froze. I looked around and only a few feet away was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. Our eyes locked. He was wearing a dark well-fitted tuxedo and looked mischievous.

  His eyes wer
e almost piercing through me. They were blue and he narrowed them as he looked at me up and down. He was tall with dark hair, and he was slow and calculated as he walked over to me. I still held the glass in my hand, and I was still frozen. I felt like prey to a tiger. I couldn’t believe he was coming over to me. The audacity of him was inappropriate. Though I couldn’t move away.

  “Are you enjoying that?” he asked.

  “Yes.” I said uncomfortably knowing all to well what he meant.

  He gestured at my hand, “May I?”

  “Yes.”

  I placed my hand in his and he bowed over it and said, “I’m Mr. Cliff Collington.”

  “Miss Templeton.”

  “That champagne must be delicious, the way you were drinking it. Like you were really enjoying it,” he said.

  “You watched me?”

  His face lit up with a big smile, and then he laughed a little.

  “I really couldn’t help myself.”

  I was stunned. This guy was obviously naughty and just put it all right up front. No beating around the bush. It was appalling! Yet, my body was responding to him. I had never been talked to this way.

  “Are all gentlemen in New York like you? Complete honesty? You just blurt out what you’re thinking?”

  There was a long pause. I stared at him. Looking into his sparkling dark eyes and at his full lips. I already wanted to lean in and kiss him. I steadied myself, what was wrong with me?

  “I see. You are new to New York society. This is why I have not seen you before. I would have remembered you.”

  “And I should not be talking to you. We have not been introduced,” I said as I left his side and returned to my aunt’s side.

  A few moments later we were sitting in our theatre box. My aunt looked around and said, “Where are the Collington’s? They are the ones that offered this theatre box and they assured me they would be here.”

  I froze. Did she say Collington? That was the gorgeous gentleman’s name. I felt a flush come over me.

  “Oh Mrs. Swanson! So good of you to come! How do you like the seats?” a voice said.

  I turned to see Cliff Collington hovering over my aunt. I was mortified.

  “Mr. Collington, thank you. It was a neighborly thing for you to do. This is my niece visiting me from St. Louis, Miss Mina Templeton.”

  “A pleasure,” he said as he grabbed my hand and kissed it. He gave me a knowing flirtatious look.

  “She has not seen much of New York yet as my ailments have been acting up,” my aunt said.

  “Oh, well I have taking my cousin Larissa Marisse for a carriage ride tomorrow to see all the sights. Miss Templeton is welcome to join us,” he said to my aunt.

  “Oh yes that will be delightful! Thank you sir. First the theatre and now this, you are too kind. As long as another female, your cousin is with you it shall be acceptable,” she said.

  “Very well, I will call at noon Miss Templeton.”

  Cliff looked at me and winked. He was up to something I could tell. He was a scoundrel and I kind of liked it. The lights lowered and the performance started.

  Later that night in bed, I thought about the man Cliff Collington. I had been so turned on by him. I wanted him. He was gorgeous. Back in St. Louis I had become involved in scandal when I ran off with my beau. We were forced to become engaged after that, but the engagement was now off. However, I was not a virgin like most women, partly why I had to come to New York.

  The next day I tried on every dress I had for an outing. I finally settled on a blue silk day dress and parasol. Right at noon the door bell rang. I ran to it. I opened it to see a valet standing there.

  “A carriage for Miss Templeton from Mr. Collington,” he said.

  I looked out the door and saw the carriage. Well, we were neighbors so there was no point in formalities. I yelled out, “Aunt I’m off with Mr. Collington and his cousin!”

  “Very well dear!”

  She yelled back. The valet opened the door and I climbed in. The carriage was empty. Where was everyone? I waited a good five minutes in the cold! Then the door opened and Cliff stepped in.

  “Miss Templeton so glad you can make it,” he said as he hit the top of his carriage with his walking stick.

  The carriage jolted forward and we were off.

  “Wait! Where’s your cousin? Miss Larissa?”

  “I have no cousin,” he winked.

  I gasped. “You scoundrel! How dare you?”

  “Very well, do you want to go back home or do you want to continue our ride through Central Park and New York to see the Christmas trees?”

  I was silent. Then I finally agreed.

  “I suppose since we are already going.”

  Later, we were standing in front of a grand Christmas tree in the lobby of the grand museum.

  “It’s beautiful!” I said as I went in for a closer look. There were all sorts of animal decorations, from turtles to zebras. They were made of the most delicate paper. Some of them were shiny and others were a matte paper, but they were all expertly done.

  “There must be hundreds of them,” I said in awe.

  “About five hundred,” he said, and then added. “So you like it?”

  “Like? I love it. It’s absolutely fascinating. Thank you,” I said staring deeply into his grey, but now more blue colored, eyes.

  “Good than I am off to a good start,” he said.

  “It’s the best Christmas tree I’ve ever seen. Does that make you happy?” I flirtatiously said.

  “Yes, it does. Come on let’s go to my office,” he said as he walked off further into the museum.

  “Office?”

  “Yes, I work here,” He said as he walked backwards a few steps to deliver that information to me.

  I was pleasantly surprised. He definitely looked the part. I immediately got excited. I wanted him now more than when I first laid eyes on him. I scurried after him to catch up. As I placed myself along side of him at his pace of walking he made a cute side glance at me and smiled. My heart melted.

  We arrived at a door that was labeled “museum staff only.” He used a key to unlock the door and we stepped into a quiet long hallway.

  “This way.”

  “Where are you taking me?” I said playfully.

  He laughed and said, “I swear, it’s just my office. I know it’s a bit creepy in here cause it’s a massive place. But trust me.”

  I laughed too. But I did trust him. For some reason, it felt like we had known each other forever even though we had only just met. Then we came to a vast staircase. We climbed two or three flights and finally came to a hallway with people about and offices. He showed me into his office. As soon as I stepped in I immediately fell in love with it. The wood was dark and heavy and a massive bookshelf full of old books covered an entire wall. There was a heavy oak desk in the middle of it that had piles of papers and specimens in glass jars. It was a true scientist’s office. He went over to the large windows and said,

  “Come. Have a look.”

  What other surprise could this gorgeous man have in store for me? I slowly walked over. When I got to the window I looked down. From this point you could see almost all of Central Park. I gasped at the sight.

  “This is your view? It’s amazing. You are so lucky.”

  “I know. It’s good right. The whole park lights up at night. I think it could fulfill some of your Christmas winter wonderland fantasies,” he said as he turned away from the window.

  I looked at him. Who was this man? Why was he doing so much to please me or make me happy? It was more than I expected from any stranger. He must have seen the questioning look in my eyes, because he caught my gaze and held it. The chemistry between us was so thick it filled the room. I wanted to kiss him right then and there, but that was absurd. I barely knew this man for thirty minutes or less. What was happening to me?

  CHAPTER TWO

  We stood there at the window of his office. The surroundings were exactly what I wan
ted New York to be like. I was in the office of a historic New York building with the vastness of Central Park below us.

  Cliff leaned in closer to me. His scent was intoxicating. His voice came down to a whisper and then he said, “Want to see it?”

  “See what?” I stepped backwards a little.

  “The museum,” he said as he motioned back toward the door.

  “Oh, yes of course. I would love too.”

  “I’ll just show you the highlights because you really could spend days in here.”

  “I would like that, yes please,” I said enthusiastically.

  For the next two hours, Cliff showed me around the museum. I was completely captivated by the passion he had in his voice when he talked about something that was on display. It was obvious that this was what he loved in life. It was contagious, and I soon found myself feeling enthusiastic about things I would normally find dull. He had a way of explaining it in a way that gave me a different perspective. It was eye opening. I wondered what else he could give me a new perspective on? I thought to myself. The immediate subject of love jumped into my mind. After suffering the bad engagement in St. Louis, I thought I could never feel the way I use to about love. That it is possible. That true unconditional love was possible. I had invested two years in that relationship, and I thought we were on our way to being married. It was a shock to find out, he had a completely different view of things. What was I getting myself into this time? This man was too gorgeous to be a one-woman sort of man and he already showed me he was a deviant scoundrel. Or so it seemed. Plus he worked at one of the most prestigious museums in the world. He was definitely a catch. The amount of attraction I felt when I met this man only minutes ago on the steps made me know that much.

  Thinking those thoughts now, while being led around by Cliff, made me stop in my tracks. I just realized that I didn’t have the immediate sparks with my now ex-lover when I first met him two years ago. We had sort of just fallen into a relationship gradually. There was nothing even close to the sparks of electricity I was feeling now with Cliff. I felt those sparks the first time we locked eyes. Is this how it’s suppose to be? I just assumed those feelings were just fleeting feelings of lust that you couldn’t build anything meaningful on.