Yours Truly (Billionaires and Brides 2)

“I can go home,” she offered. “The last thing you need is to be seen with me. I probably should go.”

“No. You’re the only thing I’ve looked forward to all week,” he replied, putting a hand on her shoulder as if to keep her from bolting. “Please, don’t leave.”

“Okay.” She smiled and did her best to look relaxed and calm for his sake. “I guess I can stay for dessert. People do that in meetings, right?”

He smiled, but it didn’t really touch his eyes. She could only imagine the stress he was under. His company, the one he had worked so hard and long to build, the thing that he got up for in the morning, was falling apart. She wished she could do more for him than just stay for dessert. He held her hand as they walked back to their room.

17

Kat

Dessert came and went quickly. It was some sort of crème brûlée that should have made her mouth water, but her appetite was still missing. She tried to keep the conversation light, but it was obvious that AJ’s mind wasn’t completely on the meal. He tried, though, and it was a pleasant end to the meal. She could appreciate AJ’s ability to set work aside for the moment, even if they didn’t resume a completely carefree banter.

AJ signed the bill without batting an eyelash. Kat tried not to peek at the end, but she still saw at least three numbers for their small meal. A meal of this cost would have her budgeting her groceries for the rest of the month to make sure she could pay rent, and yet AJ signed the check like it was nothing.

She pulled out her phone and sighed.

“What’s wrong?” AJ asked, setting the pen down on the top of the bill.

“Apparently we just hit a peak ride-share time,” she groaned. The cost of a cab would be a little big cheaper, but not by much.

“Peak ride-share time?” AJ looked confused. “What’s that?”

“Ride-share. You know. It’s this company that arranges for people to drive you places using their own cars. It’s kind of like a cab service, but the drivers are just ordinary people,” Kat explained. “Most of the time, it’s cheaper and has less wait time than a taxi. Except during high usage times, when everyone wants a ride. Then the prices go up. Basic supply and demand kind of a thing.”

“And demand is high right now?” AJ asked.

“Yup.” Kat put her phone in her bag and started picking up the various pieces of paper from their “business meeting.”

“What does that mean for you?” AJ handed her a stack of paper that she slid easily into her bag.

“That I either will pay through the nose, or I’ll wait until the price goes down. Or get a cab.” She didn’t really like any of those options, but since she didn’t have her car, that was all she could do.

“Let me drive you home,” he said. It wasn’t a request.

“Are you sure?” she asked, watching his face carefully. “I don’t want to make things harder on you then they already are.”

“Let me drive you home,” he repeated. “I have a limo. We can recreate our first night together.”

Kat grinned. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you planned this.”

“What?” AJ managed to look innocent. “This is how I always travel to business meetings.”

Kat wasn’t sure if he meant that, but she wouldn’t be surprised either way.

AJ led her to his limo, already pulled up outside with a driver waiting patiently by the door.

The driver opened the door and stood by it as they approached, though AJ took his position while he helped Kat climb in.

Kat hadn’t been in very many limos, but she knew this was one of the nicer ones. The interior was soft leather and spacious. She could see multiple power outlets and fold out desks. This could just as easily work as a mobile meeting space.

After getting in, AJ had wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close so that the two of them were snuggled up on the seat. The cab was dark with the oncoming night and slowly the engine purred to life. AJ hit a small button that made the privacy screen go up, separating them from the driver. Memories of their first night together, stealing the limo and riding around talking, floated through her mind.

Kat’s head was nuzzled against his chest when she felt him pulling up on her chin. She tilted her head just as AJ’s lips met hers. She felt him suck in and bite her bottom lip before releasing it and diving in with his tongue. He tasted sweet and energizing. His tongue wrestled with hers, it wrapped around her and then released her with teasing coercion. She matched his intensity with both of their tongues occasionally slipping out to caress their lips.

She held his face with both of her hands and then slid them behind his neck. She pulled him down to the seat and felt him shift his weight so that he was fully on top of her. His hands had fallen from her face to her chest, where he unbuttoned her shirt and pulled down on her bra, exposing her bare breast.

He squeezed her breast and then interrupted their kiss to suck on her nipple. Heat coiled in the pit of her stomach, shooting liquid lightning up her spine. He bit gently and then released and took up her breast again with his hand. He kissed up her chest and she turned so he could continue kissing up her neck. She squirmed at the feel of his lips tenderly pecking at her skin. Eventually, he kissed her lips once more. His hand was holding her waist. She hoped that he would unbutton her pants and pull them off entirely, but the car slowly came to a stop.