Bedding The Billionaire Read online

  Jamie put a hand on her shoulder, leaned down, and murmured in her ear. “You look beautiful, Luce, and I’m proud to be walking into that restaurant with you wearing my ring. My family will love you.”

  She took a deep breath, tilted her chin up, and gamely said, “Of course they will. What’s not to like?”

  He grinned and squeezed her shoulder. “There’s my girl.”

  There’s his girl? The feminist in Lucy should have gone bonkers at that. Instead, she couldn’t deny his words made her feel all warm and syrupy inside.

  Jamie took her by the hand and led her inside to a private dining area.

  As they approached the long table with about twenty people around it, an older version of Jamie, his thick brown hair sprinkled with grey at the temples, stood up. He smiled brightly, making his face look even ten years younger.

  “This has to be the lovely Lucy. I’m so pleased you were able to come. I’m Jamison Whitcomb, Jamie’s father.”

  Jamison? She looked at Jamie with a cocked brow. “Are you Jamison Whitcomb the Third?”

  “The Fourth,” he said with a sigh.

  “I like it. Jamison.” Lucy turned and shook his father’s hand. “I’m so pleased your family included me in such an important event. Thank you for having me.”

  “Thank you for coming. This is my wife, Jamie’s mother, Kathleen.” Jamie’s mother smiled and gave her a hug. She had platinum blond hair with subtle highlights, cut short but framing her small face stylishly. She had dark blue eyes that sparkled and were a perfect complement to her elegant blue and gray dress.

  “Hello, Lucy. I’m so happy to meet you.” She shot a glance at Jamie. “I wish we’d gotten to meet you sooner, but according to Jamie, your romance was a bit of a whirlwind. But I knew when he fell in love with the one, it would happen that way. You’ve found yourself a wonderful man, if I do say so myself.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lucy said. “Believe me, I know what a rare catch your son is. Thank you for having me.”

  “It’s our pleasure, and how lovely you look. I love your earrings, dear.”

  Lucy smiled and felt her heart expand. The earrings were the only part of the outfit that were truly her own. They were long dangling threads of silver with little opals in them. They were sexy and quirky, and the minute Lucy had seen them in a little boutique in Napa, she’d immediately loved them. “Thank you.”

  “Brianne, come here and meet Lucy,” Jamie said.

  Jamie’s sister’s hair was dark like Jamie’s; it fell across her shoulders in long, soft curls and she had the same big dark eyes as he did. She was dressed in a funky dress that Lucy loved. She came over immediately and gave her a warm hug.

  “You and I will have to spend some time talking about my brother,” Brianne said. “I’m sure he’s told you all about what a gigantic nerd he was as a kid. Did he tell you he started his high school’s first-ever annual recycling drive?”

  Lucy laughed. “No, but I’d love to hear all about it sometime.”

  Jamie ignored his sister and moved on, introducing her to the groom, Eric, his best man, Gabe, and the other groomsmen, Ryan, Cole, and Luke. Lucy blushed furiously when she remembered they’d seen her partially strip on that stage in Vegas. Granted, she’d been wearing a mask and wig, but given how Jamie had carried her off stage, they had to know who she was. Stiffly, she waited for one or all of them to shoot her a leering grin or make some inappropriate comment.

  It didn’t happen. They were friendly and polite and seemed genuinely happy to meet her.

  So were the rest of the people at the table.

  During dinner, Jamie’s mother made a point of asking Lucy about her job and how she liked living in northern California. His father included her in as many conversations as he could. Both were gracious, charming, and made her laugh.

  At one point, Jamie excused himself to greet a friend. That’s when Jamie’s cousin Gretchen arrived late.

  She and her husband David sat down across from Lucy. After Jamie’s parents introduced them, Gretchen smiled at her, but when David spoke, introducing himself as the head honcho of some computer company, he sounded like he had a giant stick shoved up his ass.

  “Lucy Conrad,” she said. “College professor.”

  He frowned, tapped his finger against the table, then pointed it at her. “Are you related to Gail Conrad Lancaster?”

  The warm glow Lucy had been feeling immediately vanished. “Yes, I am.”

  “My condolences on the loss of your sister and brother-in-law.”

  “Thank you,” Lucy said. “How did you know them?”

  “I was a business colleague of Mason and his family. Poor Mason. He loved Gail to pieces. Always said she was a true class act.” He scanned her, his gaze flitting up and down, as if taking her measure. His gaze rested on her dangling earrings, and for a brief moment, a sardonic grin crossed his face.

  “Well, that she was,” she said. “Gail was perfect.” She looked down at her meal and tried to focus on putting one bite of food into her mouth at a time. When she heard a snicker, she looked up and saw David whispering to Gretchen. They were both looking right at her.

  She could tell immediately by the unease that flickered across Gretchen’s face that David was saying some less than complimentary things.

  She forced herself to smile and stood. “Excuse me.” She walked toward Jamie, who looked at her and frowned, as if he could tell immediately she was upset. His gaze honed in on her empty seat and then on the couple who sat across from her. As she tried to slip by him, he put his hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she said brightly.

  “Lucy…” he said, but she could tell he didn’t want to get into it when others might overhear them.

  She stood on tiptoe and gave him a light kiss. “I’m okay. Honest. I just need to go to the restroom.”

  He cupped her cheek. “I’ll miss you. Hurry back.”

  The warm feeling that had disappeared with David’s arrival was suddenly back big time.

  “I will,” she said.

  In the restroom, Lucy got herself together. So David was an ass. Big deal. There were assholes in all walks of life. She had to be fair and not judge Jamie and his family and friends just because one guy was a jerk.

  When she returned to the table, dinner was coming to an end, and Brianne was flitting around the room, making jokes that made almost everyone laugh. David’s face got all disapproving at times, but this only served to egg Brianne on; it was obvious Lucy wasn’t the only one who found David to be a royal prick.

  Brianne and Eric didn’t seem to spend much time together, which Lucy thought was odd, given it was the night before their wedding. Eric looked distracted, and at one point he was furiously texting on his phone. Brianne went over and said something to him. He looked angry and said something back. Instead of losing her cool, Brianne turned back to her guests, smiling and joking again, but this time with a decided edge of desperation.

  Lucy turned to look at Jamie, wondering if he’d noticed, but he was looking straight at her. She saw him turn to his father and mother and excuse himself, then he came over to her. Bending down to talk in her ear, he said, “What do you say we get out of here and take a walk on the beach? Then I can tuck you into bed.”

  “Tuck me in, huh?” she whispered.

  “Among other things,” he whispered back.

  The tingling in the core of her belly told her the night was just beginning.

  * * *

  Fifteen minutes later, Jamie and Lucy stood next to the massive bed in their suite. He leaned down until his mouth hovered a few inches from hers. His breath puffed against her lips and she moaned and closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than to feel his crushing kiss. When he kissed her, however, he did it by trailing his lips along the underside of her jaw. She moaned again, this time with an edge of desperation that he couldn’t possibly miss.

  His mouth covered hers, skilled and firm. His tongue pierced inside
with no hesitation, tangling with hers. She immediately slid her hands up to his shoulders and pulled him against her, relishing the feel of his hard, muscled chest against her aching breasts. Then she sucked on his tongue, even as she imagined another part of her body wrapped tight around another part of his. He groaned, and as he reached down and cupped her ass with rough hands, he pushed his hips into hers. He worked her against him, giving her no choice but to feel the steel-hard length of him.

  As if there was anything in the world she wanted more in that moment.

  But actually there was. She discovered that when he moved one hand up her ribcage and to her breast, gently engulfing her in his big palm and squeezing. Her eyes closed at how good it felt and she arched her body closer, silently asking him for more. For something.

  His fingers on her nipples.

  His mouth sucking her deep.

  Her clothes off…

  Her eyes flew open as he quickly unzipped her dress, pushed it off her so that it pooled onto the floor, and then he pulled the cup of her bra down. He flicked her nipple once, twice, before squeezing it between his thumb and forefinger. The heat already coursing through her exploded into an inferno. An intense ache pulsed between her legs, making her feel empty. She ripped her mouth away from his even as she writhed against him. “Please,” she whimpered. “I want your mouth.” Part of her knew she wasn’t making sense; he’d just been kissing her, and she wanted him to kiss her again, but she also wanted his mouth on other parts of her.

  “You’ve got my mouth.” He buried his face in her neck, sucking below her ear and then trailing his lips down to the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder merged. “And my teeth,” he whispered, an instant before he bit down gently on her fragile skin. She lolled her head to the side to give him greater access. His hips ground harder against hers, and for a second she stiffened as a pre-orgasmic ripple hit her. His dick rubbing between her legs, his fingers at her nipple, his mouth at her neck…all were enough to have her close to coming. All she had to do was imagine him shucking his clothes and pumping inside her and…

  “No,” he growled. “Not yet.” He pushed her hips against his, forcing her to stop grinding against him, controlling her. Then he removed his fingers from her breast.

  Pissed, she struggled against him. “Damn it! Don’t stop. I was so close.”

  “You’re going to get even closer, baby. And I’m going to pull you back again. I’m going to make you work for it.”

  She let out a strangled cry as he lowered his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth. The warm, firm pressure felt so good she immediately buried her hands in his hair and held him close. “Don’t stop,” she whimpered. “Please, don’t stop.”

  He ceased the suctioning action of his mouth and shushed her, but then flicked her nipple repeatedly with his tongue. Each time he did so, she swore she felt a tingle against her clit. She cried out at each sizzling sensation.

  Abruptly, he straightened, and though she tried to pull his head back down, he resisted, shaking away her touch. He backed her up against the bedroom wall and reached down to hook his arms under her knees, pulling them up and out so that his hips were cradled between her thighs. The position left her at his complete mercy, pinned against his hardness, unable to move even as he retained the ability to swivel and grind against her, rubbing against the very heart of her until he was slowly driving her out of her mind. He was ratcheting her up again. Pushing her toward release. Was he going to give it to her this time, despite what he’d said before?

  She held her breath and concentrated on every pulse of pleasure he was forcing on her. Her body strained and strained and she was almost there…

  She screamed when his hips stilled. Pounded on his shoulders. “Damn you! Stop teasing me. I can’t take it!” she yelled.

  “Okay, baby,” he said. “I’m sorry. I’ll give it to you, I promise.” He stripped off her bra and panties.

  She reached for his pants. She’d only gotten him unbuttoned and unzipped when he flipped her around so that she was standing with her back to him. “What—”

  He pulled her hips out and knocked her legs apart. She gasped when he plunged his fingers into her pussy from behind. She choked out a moan as her vaginal muscles clenched around his fingers. He buried his face against her neck again and whispered into her ear, “I’m going to fuck you like this first. Make you come. Then when you’re limp with your release, I’m going to carry you to bed, flip you around, and make you come again while you look into my eyes.”

  She closed her eyes and nodded. Sensed movement behind her, heard the crinkling of foil as he sheathed himself in order to protect her, then felt the hard, broad tip of him nudging against her folds. She bit her lip, then cried out when he buried several inches of his hard shaft into her. She immediately clenched around him, making him groan. He kissed her shoulder. “That feels so damn good. Can you take more of me, baby?”

  “Yes.”

  He gave her more, pushing into her steadily and without mercy, until he was buried balls-deep inside her. Against the wall, she banged her fists. She felt so full. Barely able to contain him. He covered her hands with his and entwined their fingers.

  “Hang on to me,” he whispered.

  She clung.

  He plunged in and out of her, stroking her from inside in a way that blew her mind. She careened toward orgasm so fast it was a relief and a torment. She wanted the orgasm with everything she had. Wanted to make what they were doing last, too. But she couldn’t have both. He lifted up slightly so that he could get his hands beneath her breasts. He cupped them and manipulated her hard, aching nipples, telling her that he couldn’t wait to suck them until they were red and achy, and then he lowered one hand to cup her between her thighs and manipulate her clit. He was all over. Surrounding her. Except…

  She turned her face to the side and back, straining for his mouth, which he gave her almost instantly, plunging his tongue inside, mimicking with such perfection the way his body was joined with hers below the waist. Her release crashed into her like a tidal wave, making her shake and scream. Even as he grunted with his own release, he didn’t let the first wave of her orgasm hit and ebb, but rather kept the sensations going with everything he had—his mouth, fingers, cock. He made her ride wave after wave until she was almost crying, unable to take anymore. Then he stayed over her, quiet, caressing her softly, trailing kisses from one shoulder and across her neck to the next, almost as if he could feel the confusing emotions that threatened to overtake her and was trying to shelter her from them.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The next day, while Jamie took care of brother-of-the-bride duties, Lucy stood in front of a full-length mirror, looking at her reflection. Her hair was styled in a way she never would have chosen to style it, her body encased in a dress she never would have chosen to wear. The dress was pretty but subdued, with a modest neckline trimmed with lace.

  Sighing heavily, she slipped on her silver shoes with the lovely but sedate three-inch heels and headed out.

  The wedding was being held outside, on the green manicured lawn in the courtyard of the hotel overlooking the beach. As she walked toward where the pretty chairs were all arranged, she noted her casual up-do and dress seemed very similar to what other women were wearing, which both relieved and annoyed Lucy.

  Luke, the man Melina had speculated was either a cop or a drug lord, smiled and held out his arm. She took it and let him usher her to her seat. Once she sat down he leaned close and said, “You look very nice today.”

  “Thank you. You look handsome, as well.” And he did. Even when he smiled, Luke exuded danger. He was definitely a bad boy. Yet to her surprise, aside from noticing he was indeed good-looking, Lucy didn’t feel that heady tug of attraction she was expecting herself to feel. It was almost as if Jamison Whitcomb the Fourth had ruined her for other men.

  She was seated at the end of the aisle somewhere near the middle. She could see Jamie near the front, looking good enough to
eat in his black tux with burgundy vest and tie. She watched him talking and laughing with his friend Cole. And she noticed that several women seated around her were also looking at him.

  Did they know he was as nice as he was sexy? And whereas Lucy had once thought those two things couldn’t truly be compatible, she knew his kind heart only made him that much more sexy.

  As if he’d heard her thoughts, his gaze suddenly found hers and he smiled. Then he really looked at her, studying her from head to toe. He smiled again and mouthed the word, “Wow,” and fanned himself with his hand.

  She felt herself blush, which pissed her off. She wasn’t the blushing type. She turned away quickly, only to jerk when she saw the two couples standing in the aisle next to her.

  Mason’s parents, and his sister Diana and her date, likely her husband.

  Mason’s mother smiled.

  After all these years, Lucy still remembered Evelyn Lancaster’s smile. This was a pale imitation. That sparkle in her eyes, the way her whole face would light up when her son was in the room, was missing. There were deep lines around her blue eyes, and Lucy wondered how many of those lines came from the hours she’d spent crying over the loss of her son. Evelyn always had high cheekbones, but now they stood out so prominently she looked gaunt. There obviously wasn’t enough money in the world to erase the toll heartache had taken on her. Lucy’s heart ached for Evelyn in a way she wouldn’t have thought possible.

  “Hello, Lucy.”

  “Hello.” She stood. “I’m very sorry about Mason. At the hospital, I didn’t get the chance to tell you.” Her parents had attended Mason’s funeral, but she hadn’t been invited. And the Lancasters had left Gail’s funeral as soon as it was over—too emotional to stay to chat, Lucy figured.

  “Of course not, dear. You were very upset. We all were, of course.”

  Mason’s father nodded. She remembered him as a giant of a man, but in reality, he was a couple of inches under six feet. His eyes were almond-shaped and the color of chestnuts, and when she was younger they’d always seemed cold. His wide nose had seemed to flare like an angry bull’s when she was in room, confirming his distaste for her. Now his eyes just looked aged and a little bit sad.