The Billionaire's Deception (The Blank Check Series Book 5)

by Jeannette Winters

  “Did I win a kiss?” she asked.

  “I thought you won the last bite?” he said.

  Stepping closer to him, so they were only inches apart, she ran her hand up his chest to rest on his shoulder. “So you’re saying no to the kiss?” she teased.

  She felt Ethan tense and his voice became husky as he said, “Kollette, I think you had too much sugar.”

  He might be right because she definitely was full of energy, as well as sexual frustration. “I probably should…work some of that off, don’t you think?” Kollette’s fingers played with the collar of his shirt while she continued to make eye contact.

  He swallowed hard and said, “You’re not playing fair. I’m trying to be…a gentleman.”

  “All I’m trying to do is collect my…winnings. Unless you want to Welch on a bet.” She knew it was getting harder for him to resist. She was almost tempted to get on her tippy toes and kiss him anyway. But this toying with him was only building the excitement. She knew he wanted to kiss her, maybe as much as she wanted it. Then she remembered what he’d said earlier.

  Giving him a wicked smile, she slowly traced her top lip with her tongue. She heard him suck in his breath, just before he reached out and pulled her against him.

  In almost an animal growl, he said, “Looks like you win again.”

  When he finally kissed her, it was as though he couldn’t get enough of her, first nipping at her lips, then tugged and teased to get her to open. She met him with the same eagerness, her tongue searching and tasting all he had to offer. With a sigh, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him closer, held him tight, afraid he’d let go. But he didn’t. Instead he tightened his hold around her waist, melding her body firmly against his rock hard one. Even through their clothing, she could feel his body harden with need.

  When she moaned his name, he pulled back briefly, looking deep into her eyes. “Kollette, this isn’t why I came here.”

  She raised a finger against his lips. “We’ve both talked. We’ve both listened. Now let’s…feel,” she whispered. “Unless you don’t want to.”

  “I need you like oxygen,” Ethan said before claiming her lips once more.

  But it wasn’t enough. She needed to touch him, and wanted him to touch her. Arching back she exposed her neck to him and he began tracing kisses along her jaw, and then her collarbone. His hands tugged at her blouse until she felt his warm touch on the bare skin of her back. His caresses started low, but then his hands slipped inside the back on her slacks, and stroked the top of her buttocks. He was driving her crazy as his hips grinded against hers.

  “It’s not enough…” he muttered.

  Pulling him closer she replied, “I want it all.” Gripping his shirt, she pulled him back to her and locked her lips on his.

  Lifting her up into his arms, she wrapped her legs around his waist while he cupped her ass and rubbed himself against her core. She could feel his erection almost pulsing, begging to be released from the confines of his jeans. She wiggled her hips, her own body growing hotter, wetter, the need growing to a point she barely could think. He was turning her on and they were still dressed. Her breathing became ragged and she moaned against his mouth. But she still wanted more. Tonight she was going to be with the man she couldn’t stop thinking about. It was more than just giving him her body. He was already stealing her heart.

  She tugged at his shirt and he released her so she stood before him, quickly trying to unbutton the shirt. He brushed her hands away and did it for her. She in turn did the same to hers. Both tossing them to the side. But she didn’t stop there, she slipped out of her slacks, then removed her bra and panties, Ethan removing his clothing as well, until they were naked.

  “You’re…so…beautiful,” he whispered as his eyes roamed over her, then returned to meet hers.

  Kollette was confident in her body, but the way he looked at her, called her beautiful, it sounded like he was talking more than just about her physique. Yet she was too caught up in her own desire to try to decipher it.

  She bit her bottom lip as she took in the view of him as well. She wasn’t the only one who cared about keeping in good shape. Ethan’s body was perfection and she could barely hold back from reaching out and running her hands down his chest and lower.

  But when she raised her eyes back to his, she understood. What was happening between them wasn’t just passion and desire. It was where they had been and where they were now. Something had brought her to the wrong location two weeks ago, and that same force seemed to have brought her and Ethan back together. None of it made any sense, yet everything about it felt right. The beauty was in this moment, one they were sharing, and she didn’t want it to end.

  Not that she wanted to slow things down, but she stepped closer to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “Ethan…hold me.”

  He reached up behind her and removed the clip from her hair, letting her long mass of waves fall to cover her shoulders and back. Then he tipped her chin up so they once again were gazing into each other’s eyes. “Kollette, I will hold you all night if that’s what you want. But what I couldn’t bear is if I hurt you again.”

  There was such tenderness in his tone that she almost cried. “Ethan, I want you to hold me, touch me and…love me all night. And I want to do the same to you,” she said, bringing her lips to his.

  The kiss was slow and gentle, but quickly the fire that had already started consumed them. She arched her back. Ethan cupped her breast, and her nipple hardened, begging for attention. But Ethan’s movements were slow and deliberate, and pure torture.

  Covering his hand with hers she begged, “Please…”

  Ethan, do you know what you’re doing to me?

  As he palmed her breast, her gaze traveled from his eyes. Her hands reached out and ever so gently touched his shoulders. Using only her fingertips, she ran her hands over his biceps, along his forearms, then back up to his shoulders. She wanted to touch every inch of him and started to trail her hands to his chest.

  She felt his muscles tense as her cool hands explored his hot flesh. When she changed from the tips of her fingers to her fingernails, she brought her hands down the front of his chest, over his pecs and down his abs.

  Ethan brushed her hand away and muttered, “If you go any lower, I won’t be able to stop.”

  “I don’t want you to stop,” she said.

  In one quick movement she was up in his arms and he was carrying her to her bed. Still holding her in his arms, he laid her down gently, but never let go. Ethan adjusted himself so she wasn’t crushed by his weight, but she wanted to feel him pressed against her and she tugged at him, pulling him closer.

  “Ethan, kiss me,” Kollette begged and instantly he claimed her lips. Slowly at first, he traced her lips with his tongue, teasing and she opened to him, encouraging him to do the same. He nibbled on her bottom lip as he grinded his hips against her. She trembled beneath him with need.

  Ethan then leaned his weight to one side and she felt his warm hand run up her thigh, over her hip, and once again, cup her breast. She moaned into his mouth and arched her back to get closer to him. His mouth left hers, only to take her nipple into his mouth. He was driving her crazy with every flick of his tongue, or caress of his hand. I want you Ethan. I need you.

  As he suckled her, the feel of his hard cock against her was a promise of what was yet to come. But waiting was getting difficult and her body was aching for more.

  “Kollette,” he said in barely a whisper. She clung to his shoulders, pulling him closer. He added, “I want to touch and taste all of you.”

  She shuddered and moaned, “I…please… I… need…”

  As though he knew she couldn’t take much more, he removed his mouth from her breast and started trailing hot kisses lower, first her ribcage then over her stomach, and then one hip and then the other. Kollette’s hands gripped the sheets as he urged her to open for him, giving him access to her most private spots.


  As he kissed her inner thigh and she felt him slide a finger between her folds, then deep inside her.

  Oh God.

  She pulled at the sheets and arched her back as he made contact with her clit. He licked, sucked her until her entire body screamed for release. Then she felt a second finger enter her and her body tensed, her legs trembled and her core tightened around him.

  “Yes. Ethan. I…Yes…” she screamed as her body shook and her release continued. Panting she moaned, “Ethan…I…need you.” Her body still quivering from her first release, now wanted more.

  “Kollette, I don’t want to rush this,” he half-growled, half-moaned, struggling to maintain control.

  She tugged at him, coaxing him to raise himself up until he was settled between her legs. “Please…”

  He climbed off the bed and she heard the sound of a foil packet being opened. She was on birth control, but she was glad he cared enough for the added protection. When he returned he positioned himself between her legs, his cock brushing up on her thigh.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said as he took his cock in his hand and rubbed it over her clit.

  She shuddered again and opened wide, then wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. “You not being inside me…is painful,” she moaned.

  Slowly he entered her, letting her adjust. She moaned and rocked against him. He withdrew from her and teased her with his hard tip then thrust deeper into her. Each time he entered her faster and deeper, until she was tossing wildly, trying to meet each of his thrusts with her own. He brought her to the edge again and again, and when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he brought her even higher.

  Ethan adjusted her legs, unwrapping them from his waist, and let them ride high up over his chest. Then he gripped her hips and pulled them off the bed and entered her again, even deeper this time.

  She felt her entire body tense as he plunged inside her over and over again, even as her release began, he didn’t cease. Not until she felt his body become ridged, and his own cries filled the room, echoing hers.

  “Kollette. Oh God, Kollette.” Ethan said, and then collapsed against her.

  Both were gasping for breath. She was totally spent, and still floating from an orgasm that shook her to the core. There were no words that could describe what she was feeling right now. They laid there holding each other, limbs entwined and sweetly nestled as though they were one. She refused to let him go, and he didn’t appear to be in any rush to move either.

  She had no idea how long they had laid like that, just holding each other, but when she shivered, he moved and asked, “Are you cold?”

  Kollette nodded, “A little.”

  Ethan reached over and tugged the blanket free and pulled it to cover them. “I know we should get up and actually get under the covers, but I’m too damn comfortable like this.”

  She kissed his him gently, and replied, “We can get under the blankets the next time.” He raised his head again and looked down at her. She smiled and said, “And after a short nap.”

  Kollette felt his body twitch and he said, “I don’t know, I’m pretty rested already.”

  She ran her hands down his chest and found his cock confirmed his statement. “I guess you are,” she said as she wrapped her fingers around him, and he claimed her lips again.

  Tonight, was theirs, she was his, and he was all hers. Tomorrow would come soon enough. She could sleep then.

  9

  Of all the places Kollette could’ve run off to hide, he was glad she’d picked Hawaii. Not because it was a place he enjoyed, but seeing how much time she had spent on the balcony looking at the ocean, it was good for her. However, it made traveling back to the east coast a bit more challenging. Thankfully he had use of the company jet, otherwise there was no way he’d be able to meet Ralph for dinner on such short notice.

  His head was pounding and suffering from jetlag, but he had no choice. If he thought for one minute he could’ve pulled this off over the phone, he wouldn’t have left Kollette to be in Miami right now. But he’d done his research on Ralph, and Kollette was telling the truth. Her father wasn’t easily manipulated. A good trait when it came to business. Not something you wanted in your adversary.

  It was hard for Ethan to view Ralph as anything but an adversary. He was after the Potters property. If Ethan didn’t know what that place meant to the Potters, he might be here to negotiate a higher offer. But if they wouldn’t take Ethan’s money, they sure as hell weren’t going to take Ralph’s.

  He looked at his watch and saw he was running late. That wasn’t the way to start the meeting, but it couldn’t be helped. No way was he going to sneak out on Kollette in the middle of the night while she slept. Not after what they shared.

  Ethan hadn’t planned on sleeping with her. He’d wanted to, but the timing of it sucked. He hadn’t told her about the phone call with her father, and she didn’t know he was about to meet with him now. There was guilt regarding that omission. But if he was going to pull this off, she needed to stay out of it. At least for now. Once this meeting was over and he knew what Ralph was going to do going forward, he’d update Kollette. That last thing he wanted was to keep secrets from her. And yet, he was doing just that.

  There was time. He could pull his cell phone out and call her. It wasn’t like she was in a place without any cell service. Kollette probably was waiting to hear from him. But as long as he didn’t talk to her, then not telling her didn’t feel so…deceitful.

  He shook his head. Who was he fooling? The reason he didn’t tell her was he was afraid she’d try to stop him. Although he knew Kollette cared deeply about the Potters, this was her father. That’s where her loyalty stood. It wasn’t like Ethan was going there to threaten Ralph. He strictly wanted to express the reasons why Ralph shouldn’t move forward with his plan, at least not on the Potters land.

  The limo pulled into the parking lot and Ethan got out. There was no question that Ralph was there and impatiently waiting. Not delaying, he entered restaurant and was directed to where Ralph was seated.

  He walked over and extended his hand, “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

  Ralph shook his hand, but replied, “You’re not off to a good start. Sit. Let’s cut through the pleasantries and tell me why you wanted to meet.”

  Cutting through the bullshit was okay with him. He wasn’t here to talk about the weather or to make friends. One goal only and the quicker he addressed it, the faster he could return to Kollette.

  “I wanted to talk to you about a property you seem to be interested in,” Ethan stated.

  Ralph took a sip of his wine, then said, “I didn’t realize Lawson Steel was into real estate.”

  “We’re not,” he replied.

  “Then what exactly is this about?” he asked.

  “The property in West Virginia. My understanding is you’re interested in acquiring it. I’m here to ask that you don’t.”

  Ralph put his glass of wine down, leaned back and eyed Ethan as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. When he spoke it wasn’t about the Potters.

  “What is your relationship with my daughter?”

  Ethan had no idea how Ralph knew about it, but it didn’t matter. “I’m not here to discuss Kollette. I’m here to talk about the Potters,” he said firmly.

  “Is that where you met?”

  “Mr. Sommers, my personal life is just that,” he declared.

  “And so is my business, yet here we are, discussing them both. Now I ask you again, what is your connection to my daughter?”

  Did it matter at this point? It was possible he was having his daughter watched. Ralph seemed to be that controlling. Or Kollette may have called Ralph and let it slip as well. The only issue was Ethan and Kollette hadn’t put a label on it. There really wasn’t a need to. He definitely wasn’t about to do so for Ralph’s sake either.

  “Dating. Now about the Potters, I appreciate it if you looked elsewhere to build.”
/>
  “I’m not sure I trust you, Lawson,” he said.

  You probably shouldn’t.

  “Are we talking about the Potters, or your daughter?” he asked.

  “Both. You see one of my hotel managers called me regarding a man who had been inquiring about Kollette. John said the man had been asking too many questions that had nothing to do with the hotel, and all about Kollette. Of course, he didn’t catch your name. I reached out to my daughter who confirmed she had no idea who would be looking for her and she was safe and sound at our hotel in Hawaii.”

  “We had not discussed her change in employment at that time,” he said.

  Ralph glared at him. “I think there was a lot you hadn’t talked about. But Kollette didn’t mention your name either. However when you called last night, I wanted to gather as much information as I could on you. I was familiar with Lawson Steel, but since we’ve never actually done business, I was looking for a reason why you wanted to meet. That led me to call my step-son Connor. To my surprise he knew a lot about you. Not that he was forthcoming with any details, but he had mentioned you were a…friend of Kollette’s. So as you can see, I wasn’t expecting you to come here to talk business.”

  Had Ralph thought Ethan was here to ask for her hand in marriage? It’d be a cold day in hell before that happened. Ethan not only enjoyed his single life, but if he wanted to get married, it would be a decision between him and the person he loved. He didn’t require anyone’s approval or blessing.

  “Well now you know, I’m here on business,” he said flatly, hoping to change the subject.

  “So you are. Once again, not sure what I do is any of your concern.”

  “The Potters are friends of mine. They are not interested in relocating. That is their home and I would consider it a personal favor if it continued to remain that way.”

  Ralph said, “Maybe that works for Lawson Steel, but that’s not how I run my business. If I did, I wouldn’t have one.”