The Billionaire's Box Set

by Hazel Taylor

  I felt like I had been waiting for this throughout the whole conversation. Standing up, I leaned into her, my lips inches from hers. This was my specialty, seducing women. Brushing my lips against her soft full ones, I could feel a hunger build inside me. Containing it, I focused on tempting and teasing her. Even though it was just pretending, it sure felt real, every breath, the way her lips captured mine, tasting and teasing in return.

  I thought I was the master, but she showed me it was an illusion. As I pulled back, her eyes revealed desire and the smile of a temptress I was going to regret kissing.

  “I think you might need more practice—if I am supposed to be wooed, that is.”

  I knew a challenge when I saw one and I wasn’t about to let it slip by. Sweeping her off the chair into my arms, I crushed my lips upon hers. Hunger poured from me like never before; there was just something about this woman that drove me nuts. Her indifference to me, the way she challenged me—I could only imagine what we would be like in bed.

  6

  Lily

  He held me tight against a chest that felt rock solid. The feel of his body against mine combined with lips that knew how to tempt and seduce crashed down around me. Thoughts didn’t exist, just feelings, the way he felt, the taste of his lips caressing mine, the intoxication of being engulfed by him.

  I told myself the excitement of it all was just because it had been so long, and he was oh-so-tempting, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that was a lie.

  A soft whimper surprised me as I realized it came from me. Struggling for control, I gave up and threw caution to the wind. If I was going to be kissed, I was going to damn well enjoy every minute of it. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

  To my delight, a groan escaped his lips as he teased my bottom lip, nibbling it gently. Inching closer, I set about making every moment count. We couldn't go on like this for much longer without Donnie and Paige knowing, and he knew it too. Sighing heavily, I pulled back, ending the kiss.

  Breath heavy, I was pleased to see I had affected him in the same fashion he had me. His eyes were smoldering with pent-up desire, and oddly, his hand seemed to visibly shake as he reached for his beer.

  I couldn’t help but touch my lips at the memory of his kisses. I smoothed my hair down and straightened myself up silently before we both made our way to the dinner table.

  The dinner was happy and jovial. Now and then, I would catch Cameron silently watching me. At the end of the night before I retired to bed, Paige caught me.

  “What’s going on between you and Cameron?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Lily, I saw you two kissing at the bar.”

  “It’s nothing, I assure you.” I wasn’t really in the mood to discuss it with anyone. Those moments echoed through my mind and body the rest of the night, adding another sleepless night to my repertoire.

  The wedding was beautiful; the bride and groom looked so blissfully in love it was pure joy. Her dress, a body-hugging mermaid style, was perfection. The food was pure decadence, the music exotic and entertaining. Everyone had a blast, even Cameron and me.

  Our first dance together, as was customary, was a bit awkward. It felt right to be held in his arms so closely, yet uncomfortable because of the desire that held us both mesmerized. We didn’t speak much during the wedding, somewhat avoiding each other.

  Having had a little too much to drink, I let him walk me back to my room.

  “You looked beautiful tonight.”

  “Thank you.”

  I could feel the heat of his body behind me as I unlocked my door. “Do you need any help?” Even after a few too many drinks I still had enough sense to see the playboy.

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Okay, well after breakfast tomorrow we will head to the airport. I am anxious to get home and get this over with.”

  “Okay. Good night.”

  I thought that would be it, but he had other ideas. “Not without this.” He pressed against me, turning me around. Slowly he tilted my chin up to gaze at him before capturing my lips in a gentle feathery kiss that was like butterfly wings. Just as I started to relax into it, he stepped back, fully composed.

  “Good night.”

  7

  Cameron

  After breakfast the next morning, Lily and I said our goodbyes to everyone. She didn't talk much the trip back to California, explaining that she had decided for a friend to take care of her entourage of animals for a bit longer and that I would be paying that person too.

  I learned that she had a younger sister named Anna who was a single mother and that she loved watching Motocross and the Demolition Derby, where Paige’s brother performed. She had a tattoo of a rose on her left cheek, which surprised me, and she was allergic to berries.

  I shared with her my love of rock climbing and that as an only child I was as spoiled as they come. She claimed that was what had made me a playboy. I told her about the time Donnie and I lost our wallets and were stuck in Mexico for two weeks until our families could get clearance and paid a boatload of money for their two twenty-something idiot children.

  She laughed at my award for winning a pie-eating contest at the age of 12 at a festival, much to my family’s dismay. And I laughed at how she’d gone to a so-called modeling session only to find out she was to pose nude. It equally intrigued me that she didn’t run but did the job.

  Of course, I then tried to insist I was a novice painter and asked if she would let me paint her naked portrait. Naturally, she refused.

  Time seemed to pass in a blink and we finally arrived home.

  I loved cars, and my sleek black Mercedes was no exception. As we drove home, we continued to get to know each other so we could easily convince my partners. Surprisingly, as I drove, she began to look nervous.

  “You okay?”

  "Yes, just tired and worried about how convincing I will be."

  “Oh, before I forget, I bought this this morning.”

  She accepted the blue box without question. Even though this was pretend, I hoped she liked them. She was, after all, the closest to a wife I was ever going to get, and after this was over, I wanted her to keep it.

  She didn’t speak, merely took the rings out of the box and placed them on her finger. After studying them on her hand a bit, she smiled. “I don’t know how you did it, but I think it is the most beautiful set of rings I have ever seen. Understated, elegant yet classy. I like it.”

  “Good, because when all is said and done, they are yours to keep for helping me. Here we are." Taking the turn into my driveway, I felt a little apprehension. What would she think of my place? I knew it shouldn't matter, but for some reason, I wanted to impress her. I wasn't about to pay any attention to that just now.

  8

  Lily

  The house was understated, low key and rustic. Not at all what I would have pictured a man like Cameron living in. It had a contemporary look on the outside with a woodsy, earthy theme on the inside. Pictures of family and friends hung from the walls, as did nature photos, which he told me he had taken.

  Surprisingly, I felt comfortable by the time he led me to the bedroom. I unpacked and set everything up as it should be and then decided to take a nap for a bit. He told me his housekeeper Monique would be in tomorrow morning before heading off to order some Chinese food for dinner.

  When I woke, I took a shower and dressed in a relaxed jogging pant set. I wandered the house, which was big but not overly obnoxious, to find him on a back patio that overlooked an exquisite pool and garden.

  He too had changed and was sitting making phone calls when I sat down beside him. “Yes, Alan, I understand. I know I didn’t tell you I was dating someone nor that we were getting married. It was kind of a last-minute thing. We met through some old high school friends of ours. Her name is Lily.” I listened as he carried on about us as a couple. It felt weird to be sitting listening to the conversation.

  It was a str
ange sensation that I ignored, deciding to help myself to the trays of Chinese food he had set on the table and a glass of red wine. He made eye contact, smiling a bit. "Yes, she is here right now, hold on." Turning the phone toward me, he rolled his eyes a bit, smiling.

  “Lily, hello, I am Alan Tremont, a colleague of Cam's. First of all, congrats on your nuptials. It’s a shame you decided to have a quickie wedding in Vegas. I understand you love the city?”

  Internally pinching myself, I had to remember I had a part to play now. "Yes, I love Vegas and I wanted to get married there."

  “Well my dear, it is so nice to finally meet you. Michelle and I want to get together tomorrow, have dinner perhaps?”

  “I would love that.”

  “Great. I will contact Steven our other partner and see if he and Vicky are free to join us.”

  “That sounds wonderful.”

  “Lovely, darling. Cam—” Cameron turned the phone back to himself. “I need to talk to you about that woman Erin. She has been a bit persistent while you were away. She is insisting that only you can perform the surgery.”

  “I will deal with her, don’t worry. I will help her understand.”

  “Good, good, got to go before Michelle finds me on the phone again. You’ll see. Now that you’re married, life will never again be the same.”

  “You know, I am going to call Michelle and tell her you said that.” His laughter lit up his face. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Absolutely.”

  When he hung up, I felt like I could finally breathe. "What a self-righteous, obnoxious man, talking about his wife like that. Are all plastic surgeons like that? Or is it just men from California?"

  I got comfortable in the chair and turned my full attention to him. He was now leaning back, arms behind his head, clearly at ease.

  “I’m not originally from California. I guess it must be that we are plastic surgeons.”

  “I bet she’s gorgeous.”

  "Michelle? Yes of course, because he made her that way. She's had more surgery than some actresses, but she's sweet too. Originally from Kansas, she came here to become an actress. When that fell through, she started to have surgeries to improve her chances as a model. She did some modeling gigs but when she met Alan I swear it was like love at first sight."

  “So who’s Erin?”

  “That is a whole other story.”

  “Tell me.”

  With a heavy sigh, he relented. "She came into my office about three years ago. She started out having liposuction. Then after that, she got her breasts done. We dated for a short period—that is, until I found out she was married. Well on her way to divorce."

  “And?” I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. Everything tasted better than any Chinese food I had ever eaten as I sampled each dish.

  “She wouldn’t take no for an answer. I guess you could say she stalks me a little bit. She sends me notes at the office, calls my cell sometimes or sends messages. Most of the time I just ignore her drama. I keep telling her to find another man. She tells me she’s in love with me and there is no one else for her.”

  “Why don’t you just get the police involved?”

  "We have a lot of clients, some very rich clients. We don't want to make waves that could affect business. Hence why you are here. Anyway, for the most part over the last six months, she has left me alone. I thought perhaps she moved away but while I was at the wedding, she called the office requesting an appointment with me for another job. This time she wants her thighs done.”

  "I don't even understand how any woman would want to go through such trouble for perfection when there are gyms, diets, and creams for all that."

  Standing up, he threw off his shirt and took down his pants to reveal swim trunks. My breath caught. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Without another word, he dove into the pool, leaving me breathless and hot.

  “Well, I can understand the stalker part now.”

  He laughed loudly. “I heard that. You know one of these days I might just have you in my bed.”

  This time it was my turn to laugh. "Not on your life." Two could play at that game. Rising from the chair, I turned to face him. Holding his eyes, I stripped out of my top to reveal my pink lacy bra, then inching down my pants, I revealed the matching pair of underwear. Silence greeted me as he watched me inch over to the pool and dive in. When I resurfaced, I was inches from him. His jaw hung open. "Careful, you might want to put your tongue back in your mouth before you bite it." I, of course, took the opportunity to swim off to the other side of the pool.

  “You’ve never had plastic surgery?”

  “Nope, nor do I intend to. What I’ve got is good enough for me. If a man can’t see that they don’t deserve to touch it.” It probably sounded a bit snooty, but I had become that way after Michael.

  “What about you?”

  9

  Cameron

  "Nothing, all-natural me."

  Boy, she was self-confident. Then again, so was I, in a different sort of way.

  My body responded instantly as visions of touching her wet skin, pressing her slick body against mine, sliding my fingers and tongue up and down her body had me tense. Distancing myself to control the animal, I tried to relax into the water.

  “Who hurt you? Tell me.”

  After another dive under the water, she came up to float beside me, lying back and revealing that gorgeous body of hers and the surprising birthmark just left of her navel. My hands itched to reach out and touch. There was a long silence, and I thought she was ignoring me.

  “His name was Michael. We met in high school, dated on and off for 10 years. We got engaged, everything was set and a month before the wedding he told me he was in love with someone else. He’d been seeing his secretary behind my back for a year. She was pregnant with his baby and he wanted to marry her because he loved her, not me.” I couldn’t detect any emotions, but I knew they were there.

  Damned if I didn’t want to strangle that guy. I might be a player, but at least I didn’t claim that charge. I might play with women, but I never claimed any of them was my girlfriend or that I loved them. I also never got engaged to one and cheated on her. It wasn't even an option to hurt someone that way. I understood her pain, hating that I did, but now I got why she was so easily agitated around me.

  “He was a player like you. I was the only one who didn’t know it. Paige told me many times that he was messing with this one, dating that one, but I refused to believe her. She and I got in a huge fight because of it once. After he left, I met countless women who knew him, had messed around with him, dated him, or were in love with him. I felt like such a fool.”

  Reaching out, I had to touch her, ease her pain. “I understand.” I caressed her bare belly, running my hand across it. When she didn’t even look or move, merely closed her eyes, I continued, traveling up between her breasts and molding my hand to each one as my other hand pulled her down to face me.

  Her eyes were clear and bright as she placed her hands on my shoulders, wrapping her legs smoothly around my waist. Her eyes drifted closed as my hands cupped her breasts and her behind, then ran a trail up her back to her neck.

  My body responded immediately like nothing I had ever felt before. A sigh escaped her lips as she opened her eyes to mine. She didn't speak, merely felt, as did I. There were no words necessary.

  Her lips came to mine, wet and inviting. She tasted of Chinese food and bubble gum. Pulling her closer atop my body, I made my way back to the edge of the pool, lips still tasting her. I stood up and carried her to the bedroom, and we fell together atop red Egyptian silk sheets.

  Her hands had moved to my hair, pulling me down harder as her legs held me in place. I wasn’t going anywhere, believe me. Somehow, I had envisioned this from the very first moment I met her, wanting her, needing her.

  Her soft cries encouraged me as I explored every inch of her with my mouth and hands. The delicate tip of her breast
s, the side of her stomach that made her giggle, her inner thigh that had her squirming and pleading with me. In between her toes, which made her laugh and the back of her knees and smoothness of her back that were still slick from the water.

  Each sample I took, each touch heightened my senses even more. Usually, I was in a rush to reach the finish line, just seeking my release without connection, but I wanted to savor this moment, this time, her.

  As our passion grew, our breathing got heavier. Her fingers dug into my back as I continued to tease and torment her. She nibbled on my shoulder, tasted the saltiness of my neck. Her hands were fire to my skin as she explored my chest, stomach, and manhood.

  When her feminine wiles became too much to bear, I pressed myself into her. “Ah, cara mia, you tempt me beyond anyone I have ever known.” My body shuddered as I tried to control myself. I wasn’t ready to end this yet.

  Her legs wrapped around my waist and she met me with a passionate fire that surprised me, desire rising and falling with each movement. Her lips tasted and explored as I became lost in the heat of the moment, every sensation alive as if for the first time.

  Now, this wasn't my first rodeo. As I said, I had loved many women, but for some reason, this time seemed more important, more exciting, more special than all the others. I wasn't about to examine this moment, but it was there in the background, buried.

  We dove deeper. “Look at me, Lily.” She met my eyes and held them as we both spiraled over that cliff together, holding on to each other. The explosion was massive, heart-stopping and breathtaking as she cried out, her eyes still pinned on mine, my name on her lips. My release was just as intense. I couldn't stop looking at her as I fell off that cliff, Lily my last word.

  Eyes closed, I lay still, her body wrapped around mine. The beat of her heart matched mine, wild and fast like a stallion running across the earth. I didn't want to move unless it was to begin again.