His Dirty Demands (Dirty Billionaires 1)

Without joy I go into the closet to look through the dresses I could wear tonight. The peach dress haunts me—it’s hanging up in a clear bag from the cleaners. I close my eyes tight against the memories of that night, of Cesare’s body against mine, of those dirty, wrong words he whispered against my skin. Damn it, just like that night, I’m wet for him. How can my body want him so badly when my mind knows it could only end completely fucked up? Misery, pain, and tears are the only thing I would be left with.

I’m already going through those things, and I haven’t even gotten the good stuff. How the hell is what I’m going through any different than what I thought, assumed would happen? Okay, the job thing, but maybe, just maybe, I could get moved to somewhere else in the company? I mean there are four other floors of people, maybe I could go to one of those when it’s over. Woah, am I actually thinking of doing this? I close my eyes tight until I feel like I might pass out. I am, heaven help me I am.

Before I think too much about it I open my phone and call Lydia, the stylist who picked out everything the first day. I found out she costs five hundred dollars an hour. Normally, I would think that was obscene; right now I think it will be worth every penny.

“Hi Lydia, it’s Alicia Jeffries. Dante Sabatini’s assistant. I know this is short notice but I was hoping you were available today.”

“I’m with a client now who has me for another hour at least. Is there something special you are looking for? Maybe I can refer you to a friend or the store directly.”

“Um...” I look at the peach dress. “Do you remember the peach Lhuillier dress? Like that but more...” Dang it, I don’t know how to put it.

“Oh, you need one of those dresses. Is it for Dante?”

I blush. “No, Cesare.” Immediately I worry she thinks I’m out of my mind for thinking one of those dresses were all it took for a man like him to want a woman like me. “The peach dress kind of...I don’t know, he liked it. He made it clear he wanted me. But I needed to make up my mind if I wanted him. I’ve made up my mind that I do.”

Her gasp is loud in my ear. “Cesare Sabatini? Give me forty-five minutes, I’ll get rid of my client. Actually make it an hour and half so I can have things pulled for you when you come in. Same store, same area, I’ll be waiting.”

“Okay, thanks,” I say, but she has already hung up.

An hour and a half later she’s waiting for me. “Come on. I’ve managed to get a few pulled. This is a day for the books. Finding the dress that will bring Cesare Sabatini to his knees.”

The idea of Cesare on his knees is hilarious. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“Oh sweetie, you have no idea how easy it is when you really try. Tell me what we’re working with.”

Since I can’t think of anything else to say, I tell her. She asks questions that have me puzzled before smiling when I answer. “Oh, this is going to be so easy. You two will be married by the end of the year.”

My gasp is so fast it leaves me coughing. I get a smack on my back, I’m frantically shaking my head. “What are you talking about? I don’t want to get married.” I think, fuck I don’t know. “Cesare doesn’t even want a girlfriend. Have you been listening?”

“To every word. I also know Cesare personally. He’s come in with women for shopping trips, and not those kind of women. Every year he selects a group of twenty young women for an inner-city mentorship program. He brings them in over two days, ten a day and buys them a wardrobe of two weeks’ worth of work clothes. The man is patience personified, he’s also kind and smart enough to make sure they are sent to a woman who handles the undergarments and things like tha

t. I have huge respect for him. He never treats me like I’m just a woman who likes clothes like most men do.

“You have caught a great white on your line—they are going to struggle the hardest. I mean I get it, they have the world at their fingertips including all the fun stuff, people jumping to make them happy, and they are going to give that up for one woman who can bring their world crashing around them with a few words? Oh yeah, they are going to fight it. Honestly, it would be a little weird if they didn’t.

“Now I know you don’t know me well, but trust me when I tell you, Cesare Sabatini and his brothers are some of the last honorable men out there. The problem with being honorable is he gets all caught up in right and wrong and well, hooking up with an employee, there’s that whole power dynamic thing. He wants the power because it makes him safe, but he knows it’s wrong, so he’s going to wait until you spell it out in a way that leaves no room for doubt that you two getting together is what you want. Which is why you coming to get a new dress is exactly the first step in the right direction. Only it’s not the only thing you’ll need to do. I’ve already put a call into Gertrude for the other part and given her your measurements. When we’re done here, you’ll go see her.”

As I follow her toward a rack of dresses hanging on a bar, I’m grateful for her help. Because the only move I had was the dress.

***

Cesare

The moment Alicia gets into the back of the limo I notice something different. It’s starts before she even gets in: she’s wearing a different perfume than she normally does. Her usual scent is a fruity perfume, light and sweet like cherries; what she’s wearing now is a deep, complicated scent of what the hell, gunpowder? Jasmine, vanilla, a musk I can’t name. It’s provocative, I want to know what it tastes like on her skin. Once she’s seated I don’t like that she’s sitting across from me, facing the back of the car. As much as I want to block her out, I can’t. Her coat—the same faux fur, a rich mimic of sable—is tied tightly around her, yet her legs are on full display in sheer black, fuck, are those silk stockings? I swallow hard as my cock jumps at the way they caress her skin. I pull out my phone, blindly scrolling through it.

Her voice comes out of the dark, husky and low. “Who is Decker Holt? I looked, and he doesn’t have any open contracts.”

I shrug, my eyes glued to my phone. “He’s a prospective client. His family is here in Chicago. Although he has lived in England for the last twenty years, his father’s health is failing so he is returning to the area. He runs a company that produces art reproductions—he’ll need a few warehouses to house the art already completed, then other warehouses for framing and shipping. This could be a lucrative deal. The business talk will be light but important. I’ll need you to focus, take notes if need be.”

“Sir, yes sir.” Those wide soft lips of hers are painted a deep lush red I can’t take my eyes off as she smiles and gives me a salute.

Her manner is as light and teasing as I’ve ever seen her. I swear it makes me hard for her all over again. What is she up to? I don’t have long to figure it out as Daniel announces we’re at the restaurant as the car comes to a stop.

I selected Goldfinches for the wide variety of the menu as well as the quiet area in the back. We both move quickly into the restaurant. Decker and his guest arrived minutes ago and have been seated. I turn to wait for Alicia to have her coat taken and checked to find the coat already off. She is posing for me. Her hand on her hip, her amber eyes sparkling as they dare me.

If we were alone right now, I’d put her over my knee and spank her sweet round ass until she couldn’t sit down for a week. I grab her by her arm to follow the hostess to our table. Blinking, I see it all over again. My cock jerks as I fight my body. The dress is sin and sex. It’s so damn tight, I wonder how the fuck she can walk in it. Made of some stretchy fabric molding to her body, with her breasts covered in a band of glittering crystals, and the lower half shimmers with black sequins. I grind my teeth as I look down. If she bent over it would be indecent.

Decker stands as we get to the table. I keep Alicia’s arm in mine and her away from him. I only let go of Alicia once she is seated. Decker smiles and nods at Alicia. His date is a brittle blonde with a fake grin filled with fake teeth named Tammy.