Kingpin (Bride of the Billionaire)

“For your life.”

She sort of half-smiles at my question, almost like she’s surprised I’ve asked it.

“Well, I want to go to school for marine biology,” she says softly. “But I’ll probably end up working at Reg’s for the rest of my life.”

“Reg’s? Reg’s the diner?”

She nods. “That’s the one.”

“What are you talking about?” I reply angrily. “Why would a girl like you be working at Reg’s?”

Ella doesn’t reply right away. I’ve touched on something uncomfortable and almost change the topic, but I can’t. I need to know everything about her.

“My mom,” she says softly. “She’s…she’s a drug addict. My father left me a college fund before he died, and she spent it all. Now I’m kind of supporting her, I guess.”

“Christ…” I mutter. “Well, we can’t have that now, Ella, can we?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll pay your tuition,” I tell her. “And whatever it costs to get your mom into the best rehab in Los Angeles.”

Ella shakes her head and frowns. “No. No, why would you do that?”

“Is that supposed to be a serious question? Why wouldn’t I? I’m sitting on a mountain of money, Ella. A mountain of money that took the bodies of many men to build. What better way to put it to use than to use it for something good for once?”

“I—but you don’t even know me.”

“I know enough,” I tell her. I place a hand on her knee and feel its softness. Warmth is radiating out from between her thighs, calling to me. I have to own her. I have to take her. “And I don’t want to hear any more argument about it, all right?”

“I—all right…”

“Reg’s,” I scoff as I devour her with my eyes. Thinking of all the men who would fantasize about her while she served them bacon and eggs makes me want to smash something. I clench my fist and bite the inside of my cheek and focus on the moment.

She’s here with me now. Not them.

“You must like animals.”

“I love them.” She smiles.

I’m actually interested in her. It’s been a long time since I was interested in anyone. For some reason, I want to tell her everything about my life. I want to volunteer information. Jesus, is this what falling in love feels like? Because if so, that’s what’s happening to me. And fast.

“You know…there’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she says slowly, her eyes lifting to mine. “If you’re up for it.”

She’s a virgin, so she can’t be talking about something sexual. But that doesn’t matter to me. Whatever it is, I’m intrigued.

“Okay.”

“Driver?” she says with the authority of a businesswoman. “Can you take us to this address please?”

Ella flashes the driver her phone and then turns back to smile at me.

“Oh, so

you’re in control now, are you?” I ask, oddly aroused by her actions.

She gives me a flirtatious shrug.

“Don’t worry. You can be in control later.”