by Ciara Cole
Billionaire’s Black Runaway Love 3
BWWM Romance
By:
Ciara Cole
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All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2015 Ciara Cole. No part of this story can be redistributed without author’s prior permission.
*This story is part 3 of a spin-off series to “Billionaire’s Black Surrogate. If you have not read this series yet, click this link to read it for FREE with KU!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Being the woman in Chace Hammond’s life had more than a few pressures for the independent Emily Cortes. As much as she loved him and wanted to be with him, how much of herself would she have to give up just to belong in his world?
Their limitless passion couldn’t give them all the answers. Even though in his arms she felt the safest, it was also with him she felt the most wary and insecure. Was marrying him the right thing?
A strange woman was playing a huge role in his life that made Emily question what Chace had to hide. And with Emily’s ex looming from the shadows, she wasn’t so innocent of secrets, herself. With so much to pull them further and further apart, will Chace and Emily find a way back to each other and claim the future together they so eagerly desired?
Chapter 1
Emily had reached the point of wanting to scream. Why did this have to happen now? Why did it even have to happen at all?
This was supposed to be the happiest moment of her life. In a week, her book would be released. On top of that, Chace’s big deal was being finalized. The massive purchase of the mobile app company by the tech giant was all over the papers. The very last thing Chace needed was a scandal. Emily could just imagine what his parents would think. She even pictured the look on Jan’s face when she heard.
The worst thing about it all was not being able to come straight with Chace about it. Emily cringed just thinking how to frame the whole story to him. Oh, like, you see my ex-boyfriend owes some crazy thugs a truckload of debt. And now they want to come after you and me just to get their cash.
Yeah…um, no. Emily couldn’t see herself going to Chace with that.
She didn’t know what the hell to do. She’d never had to deal with gangsters. Her life had been more sheltered than most. How on earth was she going to handle this on her own?
There was no way she was burdening Ciara, either. The less people Emily got involved in this mess, the better.
She bit hard on her lip, finally stopped pacing the living room, and came to a decision. Devan would be expecting to hear from her today. Drawing in a deep breath for strength, Emily rang him up on her cell.
“Finally made up your mind?” he asked.
“I’ll get the money. Just – make sure none of this ever gets out, okay?”
“Your fiancé shelled out the dough, right? I knew he was good for it.”
Emily felt her teeth grit at Devan’s triumphant tone. “You just worry about making sure this really is the last I hear of this. Are you definite they won’t ask for more? Because I’m not going to fall for this a second time.”
“Once I get the money, it’s done. I promise,” Devan said. “Trust me, Em. I’d never play you like that. When should we meet up?”
“I’ll call you again tomorrow. I’ll have the cash ready by then.”
Emily hung up before he could say more. She touched her fingers to her forehead and felt the slight warmth. All this stress was getting her down with a fever. She’d have loved nothing more than to go lay down, but Chace was coming home soon from work.
Emily had to remember to keep up a positive front around Chace so he’d never suspect anything was wrong. That night, she served up dinner with a smile and talked with him about work, the wedding, and her book release. Heavy as her heart was, she only had to look into his eyes and feel her worries float away. If only for this moment, when they were together and the outside world seemed too far away to reach them, then Emily was grateful.
At night as they made love, even with the reassurance from his touch, Emily began to feel even guiltier. Chace had really made a lot of sacrifices so they could be together. Normally, he would be as far out of her league as any man could be. Such had been the case back then when they were younger and even now. Men like him usually preferred equally beautiful and successful women who were in their social group. Emily knew she wasn’t the thin, blonde type that rich white billionaires usually found attractive.
And maybe Chace would have been better off with someone like that, thought Emily glumly. She rested her cheek on his chest and tried to lull herself to sleep with the gentle rise and fall of Chace’s form beneath hers as he seemed to slumber. She couldn’t help but wish, even for a moment, that he didn’t have someone like her in his life – someone who’d been stupid and careless enough to get mixed up with trouble that came with an ex like Devan.
Even though she tried to tell herself Devan couldn’t have foreseen any of this, either, she knew he was the guilty party in all this. If he hadn’t borrowed all that money just to please his supposedly rich girlfriend, this wouldn’t have happened. Just thinking about how she was going to have to raise all that money had Emily cringing.
Chace rested a hand on her hair, patting down the locks and making Emily start. “You’re still up?” she asked, straightening slightly on her elbows to look into his face.
His lids flickered slightly open. “Can’t sleep when I’m sure something’s bothering you and obviously keeping you awake.”
Emily felt her heart slam against her chest. She should have known Chace was just too observant.
“It’s nothing. Maybe it’s just that time of the month or something. Sometimes I get a little queasy and have trouble sleeping,” Emily said brightly. “Don’t worry about it.”
She rested her cheek against his chest again, but he took up her chin gently with his fingers. “Look at me.”
His tone was gentle, yet firm, and Emily had to school her features and hope Chace couldn’t see through her calm exterior to the nervous wreck she was inside.
Those gangsters knew about Chace and that Emily was somehow linked with Devan. Why she’d have to shoulder Devan’s responsibilities wasn’t fair in her opinion. But she’d do whatever it took to keep Chace away from them.
Now she met Chace’s piercing gaze and inwardly quaked. The dimly lit bedroom couldn’t hide the brilliance in his deep gray eyes. “If anything was bothering you, you’d tell me, wouldn’t you? I’d hate to think you going through a difficult time on your own.”
“Seriously, I’m good,” said the emphatic Emily. “I didn’t mean to be moody.”
“If you’re sure,” said Chace, before bringing her head down again to rest on his chest as he stroked her hair. “I know I’ve been too busy these past weeks. But once it’s time for the wedding, I’ll make enough allowance for us to spend as much time together as possible.”
“Sounds like a plan,” came Emily’s bright reply. She kissed the warm flesh beneath her cheek. “And I can’t wait.”
Chapter 2
Emily kept her face as expressionless as possible as she watched Devan across the table. They were in an out of the way restaurant, and she’d handed him the bulky envelope. He’d rifled through the bundles of cash before nodding.
“This shoul
d cover it. Thanks, Em. Not sure how you pulled it off, but you came through in the nick of time.”
Emily didn’t know what to answer to that. It was a good thing she’d saved up plenty over time and there was the hefty advance from the publishing company. It hadn’t come to the point of needing to ask Chace for money under some pretense, for which Emily was glad. Chace would wonder what she needed that much money for and there’d be awkward questions she couldn’t answer.
She didn’t mind if she’d had to close down her accounts, if this whole mess could get swept under for good.
“Just promise me that this will be the end of it,” Emily said, leaning forward on the table to glare straight at Devan. “This will be the one time I’ll cater to your bullshit. If I had any sense I’d be done with this whole disturbance, but I just can’t afford to take that chance. I paid not because I’m scared of anyone – I just hate the thought of risking someone I care about getting mixed up with something that was no fault of his own. Chace doesn’t deserve that.”
“Alice will be glad to know your dedication to your fiancé propelled you to decide to help. That was a good call, Em. Thank you for this,” he said, waving the envelope in the air. Then he rose fluidly, buttoning his suit.
Moments later, Emily heaved a shaky sigh as she watched Devan exit the restaurant. Did I do the right thing, she wondered? And will it be enough?
Emily wasn’t taking the chance.
That evening, she found Chace waiting at home when she arrived. He’d cooked a delicious-smelling dinner and the amazement of seeing him back this early had Emily surprised and pleased.
“This all looks and smells marvelous,” she breathed, taking in the atmosphere of the warm, welcoming kitchen.
Chace came up from behind to give her a tight back hug. He kissed on the side of her neck. “It’s my little way to make it up to you for my busy schedule. Like I promised, I’ll see us getting to spend more time together.”
Heart swelling, Emily pushed back the thought of the whole problem with those loan sharks. She turned and cupped Chace’s face, staring up at him tenderly. “Let’s move to New York.”
Chace looked surprised and held on to her shoulders as he drew her back. He stared fixedly into her face. “You’re sure? When did you make up your mind?”
Emily shrugged, letting out a laugh. “I gave it some serious thought and…I just want this to work. You and me, I mean. Nothing should stand to separate us, in any way.”
Emily could tell Chace was confused, yet happy. “What about your book, the promotions and stuff?”
“It’ll be easier for me to make myself available here when I need to be, than for you to have to keep hopping on the plane to New York whenever the new company requires your presence. You said we needed to make sacrifices, and I realized that I’m fine with it being me this time. I’m sorry if I seemed selfish and unyielding.”
Emily’s lips pouted in remorse, with Chace then kissing her soundly and easing her guilt over lying to him – though she wasn’t completely lying, since she meant it about being sorry for her stubbornness.
This was the best way, she decided. She had to get them both away from here. As far away as possible from the chance that Devan was wrong and this wasn’t over. Did gangsters ever play by anyone’s rules? What if they decided all that money wasn’t enough? They knew Chace was rich and would assume that Emily could always get more and more from her billionaire husband. She would do all she could to keep his reputation safe and to ensure the thugs didn’t try to harm them like they did Alice in that photo.
There was relief in Emily kisses and caresses as Chace drew them in direction of the bedroom. She was just so glad the disaster had been averted. What if Devan hadn’t managed to convince Alice and she’d contacted Chace directly? And demanded he pay off the debt or risk getting his name connected in a scandal involving his fiancée’s ex? That would really be like something from some lame TV melodrama.
Everything was going to be fine now, Emily believed. They’d get married and be far, far away from anything that could get the chance to hurt Chace. If it only had to do with her, Emily would never have just given in so easily and paid Devan off. But she loved Chace too much and was afraid what would happen if he found out she virtually got blackmailed by her ex’s new girlfriend and those unknown gangsters.
In the bedroom, Emily switched positions with Chace and straddled his laps. He watched and waited as Emily leaned in and began to devour his mouth in a kiss. He was inside her, so deep. But she was the one in the saddle, and she started the ride slow and languid, grinding and rotating her pelvis in the most carnal dance of all. Chace groaned and growled, his hands going from gripping her hips to grabbing the sheets and back again. Emily gasped breathlessly against his lips as she felt his broad tip knocking right into the sweetest spots within her. She couldn’t keep up this torture for long, but she’d try.
Now his hands cupped her ass, his hips working up and against her. Emily broke the sultry kiss and her fingers in his hair drew his head to the side so she could smother her whimpers in his neck. She bit and sucked on his gorgeous skin in turns, reveling in that sexy spicy taste that felt so wonderful with every nibble.
“Dammit, Emily.” Chace growled as they moved together like grain on wood, seamlessly blending into each other’s texture. “Don’t ever think I’ll let you go.”
His raspy words made Emily’s folds tighten joyously around him. She tongued the bruised flesh on his neck from her passionate bites, panting in pleasure. “You’ll keep me safe? Promise?”
Emily forgot to breathe as Chace flipped them so quick she was on her back before she could blink. He surged into her powerfully, the friction of his flesh on her clit maddening to the extreme. Chace covered her face in kisses while she hovered close to her release. As if from miles away, she heard Chace growl, “You’re mine. I’ll never let anything hurt what’s mine. Focus, Emily. Look into my eyes so I can watch you come for me.”
For him. Yes, only for him could she come apart like this. Emily locked eyes with Chace and let ecstasy blast through her. Her lips widened in a speechless wail as she came, shaking. She dug her nails frenziedly into him, lost in the exultant sensation of Chace simultaneously releasing deep inside her.
Moments later, he caught his breath and drew away slightly to look down where they were connected. He remained hard as ever inside her and a whisper of a smile fluttered on Emily’s lips. She loved the feeling of him inside her, always.
She must have been crazy to ever fight against being with him no matter what – the move to New York, for example. Her fear of losing him after the trouble with Devan made Emily realize how trivial her “issues” could be. Chace was all that mattered and she could never hold her world together if she lost him. She knew that now beyond a shred of doubt.
Chapter 3
At the book launch party, Emily was more nervous than she normally would have been. Anyone would think it was because of the occasion, the crowd, and the attention.
Well, it was mostly the attention and knowing that the cameras followed her and Chace everywhere. Who would be watching at that moment? Emily’s mind shot to thoughts of Devan and all the trouble he’d got mixed up in. Any of those involved could be looking right now, and Emily just grew more paranoid. She almost couldn’t wait for the few more days before she could leave town with Chace.
She’d always feel there was someone out there observing them, waiting for the chance to strike and destroy what she shared with Chace. This was nothing like what had happened in the beginning with Amanda and Chace’s supermodel ex. This was worse because there was no telling when the bad guys would decide they wanted to play the game on a darker scale. They’d already kidnapped Alice and beat her up just to send a message. What if they tried that with Emily or even Chace? Emily shuddered in her elegant eggshell white dress.
The book launch party was being hosted in the museum to go with the historical fusion theme of the fantasy novel, since the c
haracters traveled in time a lot. Emily was grateful to be surrounded by her friends, Chace, and even some family. As best friend and major supporter, Ciara was on hand, too, and in fact had been key to the planning and hosting. Zane was present at her side, looking as happy and proud for Emily as any two best friends of hers could be.
There was music and dancing and everyone was in a celebratory mood. Emily knew that as a new author she needed the visibility that came with spreading the word about her book. The news media and the local public showing appearance would certainly build interest, but after the Devan issue, Emily inwardly withdrew at the thought of being more under the spotlight than before.
If she could, she’d have done without the whole press hook. Her joy at having the book come out and finally getting to hold a copy in her hands and realize this was all real, was stampeded by the fear that a single mistake could destroy her hold on happiness forever.
Chapter 4
“Excited about the wedding?” Jan asked, sending Chace a smile.
“I’m excited about a lot of things,” he replied. They were seated opposite each other having lunch in an elegant, uncrowded restaurant.
“I know. The sale from the two new companies have been our most successful to date. And Emily’s book came out to great reviews last week, right? So there’s a lot to celebrate. That’s why I asked her here, as well.”
Chace’s eyes sharpened. Jan had arrived two days ago for the big acquisition deals worth over a billion dollars in total. But something about her suggestion that they meet for lunch today seemed at odds. Now she was telling him she’d invited Emily to join them?
“Tell me what you’re planning,” Chace said, eyes narrowed dangerously.
Looking far from perturbed, Jan shrugged. “In a couple of weeks, you and Emily will get married. But just how well do you know your wife to be? Can you really say she can be trusted not to betray you?”
