Tied to the Billionaire

by Lisabet Sarai, Amy Armstrong, Sam Crescent, Cheryl Dragon, Tanith Davenport

  Henry nodded in agreement then turned to Charles. To his surprise, there was an amused glint in Henry’s eyes when their gazes locked.

  “Charles,” Henry said, thrusting out his hand. They shook then Henry took a seat on the opposite side of the table.

  “How was business?” Charles asked.

  Henry waved away the question. “Forget about business. I’d like to know exactly what the hell is going on here.”

  Elena’s panicked gaze shot to Charles and he straightened in his seat, wanting to reach out and comfort her.

  “I…we…” Elena stuttered.

  “Elena and I are seeing each other,” Charles stated clearly. There was no sense beating around the bush. Charles was delighted that he could now call Elena his partner and if she consented to the proposal he had planned, he would soon be able to call her his wife.

  “I see.” Henry frowned then turned his astute gaze on Elena. “How do you feel about this development?”

  Elena sighed then looked at Charles, her mouth curving up into a small smile. “I’m very happy about it actually. Charles and I are good together.”

  “Well, it’s about damn time,” Henry said.

  Elena gasped and stared at her uncle. Even Charles had to admit he was surprised. “You’re happy for us?” he asked.

  Henry rolled his eyes. “I’ve known for years you two would be perfect for each other, I was just waiting for you to get your heads out of your asses and realise it too. So my plan worked then?”

  “Your plan?” Charles questioned. He frowned, regarding the man he had come to know well over the past ten years. Then he started to clue in. “You didn’t have any business in New York, did you?”

  “Of course not,” Henry replied. “I’ve been staying at the Carlton in town. Damned good breakfast they make there too.”

  Charles threw his head back and laughed. “You conniving old sod.”

  “So you’ve been here in Cannes the entire time.” Elena shook her head, her smile becoming wider.

  “I’d been trying to think of a way to get you together,” Henry mused. “When Charles agreed to stay here for the week, it was the perfect opportunity. I know how much you love Cannes, Elena. I didn’t think you’d turn down the chance to spend a week here. So am I finally going to have the pleasure of your company more often?”

  Elena turned to meet Charles’ gaze and her smile was bright, jubilant. “Yes,” she replied warmly. “I do believe you are.”

  About the Author

  Amy Armstrong is a Brit that loves chocolate, prosecco, and sunshine. She lives and breathes paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but is also a fan of the classics and pretty much anything else she can get her hands on, including but not limited to contemporary romance, thrillers, horror, dark fantasy and young adult fiction.

  Amy writes stories filled with heart, heat and passion. She loves to read about strong woman, but believes heroes come in all different shapes and sizes. She is happiest when writing or soaking up the sun with a pina colada in one hand and her kindle in the other. Her family and friends are an important part of her life and she loves meeting new people with similar interests. She is a full time, multi—published author and loves to hear from readers. She writes M/M romance under the pen name Lavinia Lewis.

  Email: amyarmstronguk@yahoo.co.uk

  Amy loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.

  Also by Amy Armstrong

  Huntress Chronicles: A Demon in Dallas

  Clandestine Classics: Pride and Prejudice

  BELONGING TO HIM

  Sam Crescent

  Dedication

  Thank you to Eleanor for choosing my story for her anthology.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmark mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Speed: 20th Century Fox

  Chapter One

  “Be my wife,” Simon Allen said to the woman bound to his bed.

  Hope Pattern bit her lip to stop herself from crying out. He pressed a finger on her clit, making it hard for her not to beg him to continue. She wanted him to give her the orgasm he’d been denying her. Simon had been tormenting her for the past few hours. Every single time he touched her, he only made her want him more.

  She knew what he was trying to do. For the past few weeks he’d constantly asked her to be his wife and every time he asked she gave him the same answer. They’d been together for a year, but she refused to give in to his one final demand.

  “No,” she said.

  He glared at her before moving away from the bed. Hope lay back on the sheets, happy for the small reprieve on her body. He’d not done anything to hurt her. Simon was not the type of man to harm a woman, but a rest from the sexual teasing was a welcome break. She closed her eyes while taking deep breaths to calm her erratic heartbeat.

  “I’ll be back shortly. I mean it, Hope. By the end of this weekend you’ll consent to be my wife and that will be the end of it.” Simon slammed out of his bedroom, leaving her tied to his bed.

  The bed was luxurious. The Egyptian cotton sheets were a pleasure to have under her naked skin. The rope that tied her wrists and ankles to the bed was soft against her skin. Simon was a dominant, not a sadist. He loved bringing her pleasure and the pain he used was only ever intended to heighten her arousal.

  She’d never known a man like him. The moment Simon entered a room he commanded attention and respect from everyone present.

  Hope opened her eyes and gazed at the mirror on the ceiling. She stared at her body, seeing the red marks from his lips on the tops of her breasts. Simon had forgotten to shave before kissing, licking and sucking her body. It was unlike Simon to forget even such a minute detail.

  Since the moment she’d met Simon he’d taken over her whole world. Their meeting had been unique to say the least. The start of their relationship would stick with her always.

  With the economy being in chaos, Hope had lost her job and she’d been searching for a new place to work. Allen International had been the first company to offer her an interview. The position had been for the personal assistant of the manager of the building. What she hadn’t realised at the time was that the leading CEO was in fact the owner of the whole branch of Allen International. Hope had been shocked to get such a high-ranking and well-paid job.

  At the time of her hiring, Simon had been away for the first six weeks on some important foreign business deal. He’d spent the entire six weeks helping her get used to his system over the phone. His voice alone could melt her knickers away from her body. She would pay good money to listen to him read erotic literature aloud. The six weeks of talking with Simon hadn’t prepared her for the true impact of meeting him. Their first meeting would forever be embedded in her mind.

  Staring at her reflection, she recalled the first time she had come face to face with her boss.

  * * * *

  Hope was running late. The first time she was supposed to meet her boss and she wasn’t going to be there to receive him. Simon would be pissed with her. He’d made a point of informing her over the phone that he hated tardiness. Checking her watch, she saw she had a few minutes left.

  “Come on,” she said to herself, trying her best to keep her feet moving. The busy city street and all the people bumping into her didn’t help matters. She spent most of her time apologising to people who’d bumped into her.

  With only minutes to spare, she charged through the reception doors and ran towards the elevator. She tried to use her willpower to force the damn metal contraption to move faster. She hated elevators. They scared her—she’d watched Speed one too many times.

  Biting her lip, Hope kept her gaze fixed firmly on the white light showing the change of floors. When the elevator stopped, she tapped her foot while leaning against the wall of the stall. Closing her eyes, she tried to calm her breath
ing to stop herself from panicking.

  The bell sounded and she brushed past the sea of bodies in the small compartment to make it to her floor. Several people gave her odd looks, but she ignored them.

  Without slowing her stride, she made her way to the staff room and quickly made Mr Allen’s coffee just the way he’d described on the phone. He liked it hot with two sugars and no cream.

  A quick glance at the time. She saw she had a few minutes to spare. “Please don’t let him be here yet.” She was too flustered from almost being late. Hope didn’t want Simon to see her like this.

  She stirred the hot liquid and rushed towards his office. A quick glance at her office saw the mail resting on the top of her desk. Breathing a sigh of relief, Hope figured he hadn’t made it into work.

  In that split second of checking her desk, Hope didn’t see the figure standing at his door.

  The hot coffee spilt on the floor and down her front as she careened into a hard male chest.

  Hope jumped back and stared up at Simon Allen.

  She knew it was him the moment she saw the heated look in his eyes. Her pristine white shirt was pressed against her skin with the brown stain of coffee. The coffee scalded her skin but Hope was unable to look away. Simon was much taller than her. She knew he was older by a good ten years. She was twenty-five years old.

  His dark black hair was neatly cut to his face and his features were always so serious, which she’d seen from the magazines he graced. The hard square of his jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth together. His eyes were a dark brown and almost black from the angle she was staring at him.

  “Miss Pattern, I assume?” he asked. His voice was clear without any quiver of uncertainty.

  “Mr Allen, I’m so sorry.” She pulled out of his arms. Simon must have reached out for her to stop her from falling farther.

  Instead of firing her on the spot, he pulled her into his office and closed the door. He lifted her face up for his inspection with a finger under her chin. Hope could do nothing but wait for his assessment of her.

  “You’re the woman I’ve been talking to?” he asked.

  She nodded as her words failed her. What could she say?

  Simon turned her face this way and that. She wondered what he was thinking as he stared at her.

  His finger moved from her chin to stroke her cheek. “I’ve never seen a hair colour like this. It is like pure golden sunshine.”

  Hope felt the blush fill her cheeks. She’d never been complimented for her hair before. With her full curves, many men had overlooked her, preferring the slimmer and more perfect woman. She’d seen the evidence in several bars she frequented. No one was looking for a woman with curves.

  “Sir, I don’t think this is appropriate.”

  “I like the way you call me sir,” he said.

  She smiled. There was a hell of a lot that her boss didn’t know about her. “I’m sure you do. May I go and get you another coffee?”

  “I think that would be best.” Simon took one last look at her before stepping back. Her heart was hammering inside her chest as she turned and opened the door.

  “Hope?”

  She turned to look at the man who was the sexiest man she’d ever seen.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

  * * * *

  Hope pulled out of the memory as Simon walked back into his room. Their first meeting had been electric. What was to come with their relationship had been so much more.

  Simon wore a black robe and he sat on the edge of the bed. His hand moved over her body, caressing her skin.

  “Will you be my wife?” he asked.

  She bit her lip. Hope didn’t know where his demands for her to be his wife had come from, only that he’d done nothing but ask her for the past few months. Every time he asked her, her answer was still the same.

  “No.”

  He sighed, removing his hand from her body. “Why are you fighting me?”

  “You have every part of me, Simon. Why are you determined to have that?”

  “I told you, Hope. You’re mine and you’ll have my ring on your finger. All you need to do is stop fighting me.”

  “That’s not going to happen. I’m not a toy for you to play with and put me away when you’re done,” she said, pulling on the rope that kept her bound to the bed.

  Simon glared at her. “I’ve never treated you like a toy and I wouldn’t treat my wife like that. Why do you have these thoughts about wives? I think you’re forgetting who I am.”

  “Am I really? Or are you forgetting who you are?”

  He paused for a second before continuing on with his argument. “I’m not like that anymore, Hope. I told you, I’m changed.”

  “A leopard cannot change its spots.”

  Simon growled in frustration. He leaned over the bed and untied her wrists then her ankles. She rubbed the places where the rope had been.

  “I don’t care what you say, Hope. I’ve changed and you will be my wife.”

  Before she got the chance to say anything else, Simon stormed out of the room and locked the door behind him.

  She eased up, sitting and staring at the door. Her feelings for him were not in question. Hope had been in love with him since the moment she first saw him. He made her feel things no man had ever aroused inside her.

  Hope knew this weekend was going to be different. Over the past week Simon had been more closed off. He’d barely sent a glance her way. It had been five that evening on a Friday while she was at the photocopy machine that he’d first showed any emotion inside him. Simon had closed the door and moved directly behind her. She’d felt the hard ridge of his cock against her ass. It had taken every ounce of willpower she possessed not to beg him to take her there and then.

  The moment they’d started their relationship, they’d agreed no sex or pleasure in the office. With the passing weeks and months together it was getting harder and harder not to break their rule. By the end of every shift, her pussy was dripping wet and her hunger for him was insatiable. Simon set a fire inside her that only he could put out.

  He’d pushed her hair over one shoulder and nibbled her neck. The pleasure had gone straight to her clit, coiling inside her. “Tonight, you’ll come to me and don’t forget to bring an overnight bag,” he’d said.

  Like so many times before, she’d gone to work prepared.

  Now, running her fingers through her hair, Hope wondered if she was prepared for the night he had planned for her. Their time together had been a dream. Simon was a true dominant and he pushed her in ways she’d never dreamed of.

  And thinking about his dominance reminded her of the first night they’d met in a BDSM club downtown.

  Chapter Two

  Hope had known she was a submissive and had decided to take the next step and look for a club that supplied everything she desired. Living in the city meant she had access to some of the best BDSM clubs around. Hope liked the ones that were choosy about the people they had. Being under a bad Dom was dangerous and she’d heard plenty of stories about aggressive Doms. She loved it when a guy took control and gave her body so much pleasure. Hope loved it when she trusted someone enough to put her body in their hands.

  That night she’d walked into the exclusive nightclub and sat at the bar. The owner of the club had introduced himself along with several of his staff.

  She’d been sitting at the bar drinking a rum and Coke when he had taken the seat next to her. His arm had brushed hers where it lay on the bar. At the time she hadn’t thought much about the rush of pleasure that coursed through her body. When she’d turned to look at the man who’d taken a seat by her, she’d been shocked to find the man she worked for. Simon Allen had stared at her as if she was a prized morsel he wanted to eat.

  “Do you have any idea where you are?” he asked.

  Licking her lips, Hope turned to her drink in an attempt to ignore the man by her side. “I think you’ve walked into
the wrong bar, Sir.”

  Why did she keep calling him sir? It was like an impulse inside her that she couldn’t deny. He stroked her arm with a single finger.

  She moaned as goose bumps erupted along her arm and her nipples tightened with need for him. No man had ever had this effect on her body or her mind. She didn’t know what to do or how to act.

  “I’m not in the wrong place, little sub. I should have known. The moment I saw you, I knew you were a true submissive. The way you cast your eyes down and wait for my instruction is telling. If only I’d known you understood the lifestyle.”

  Hope looked forward and saw their reflections in the mirror over the bar. Simon wore black while she’d decided on her red dress. They looked startling from where she looked. Her cheeks were flushed.

  “I wonder if you’re a natural blonde,” he said, stroking her hair.

  “I wouldn’t dye my hair.” She kept her gaze on the mirror. Staring at him would be her undoing. She knew it in the way her body responded to his mere presence.

  Simon Allen was her boss and a billionaire. They were never supposed to cross paths in a club like this. She shouldn’t be drawn to a man so far out of her league.

  “Stop thinking those thoughts,” he said.

  “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

  “It doesn’t take much to guess. I see the telling in your eyes and your body. You want me, Hope. I want you.”

  She turned to him then. He was staring into her eyes. Most guys always talked to her breasts as they were large and caught their attention first. Simon stared into her eyes, showing her more respect than she’d ever received from other men.