GABE (Silicon Valley Billionaires 2)

Li Na had threatened to bring a lawsuit for breach of contract, violation of covenant not to compete, and to enforce the material terms of our now-defunct contract on the basis of constructive assent. Bethany assured me these were baseless claims. Frankly, the idea of Li Na having us prosecuted was laughable—I imagined if she acted as a witness and had to swear an oath, she’d burst into flames.

I tried not to worry about what Li Na might do. Hannah and Wes had a large, experienced security team watching them. Gabe and I had Timmy, Levi, Ash, and a whole unit assigned to us in Boston. Another full Betts Security unit was assigned to the grounds at Paragon. My employees were happily back to work, everything unpacked and back in order.

The patch’s numbers continued to soar through the roof. I wondered how that made Li Na feel.

I laced my fingers through Gabe’s, deciding to stop thinking about her, for the first time in what felt like forever. Instead, I looked at the charming lights of downtown Boston as we pulled up to the Four Seasons.

“It’s nice having you right next to me,” Gabe mused. “I’m sort of sad you’re not going to be in the same office park.”

“It’s probably for the best.” I winked at him. “This way, you and your big muscles won’t distract me while I’m trying to work.”

He flashed his dimple. “Babe, stop.” He threw his arm around me. “Just kidding. Please go on about my big muscles.”

A few minutes later, we were ushered to our room. “This is…opulent,” I said as Gabe tipped the bellman. I turned in a circle, looking around our suite. There were overstuffed chairs, dozens of carefully selected throw pillows, crystal chandeliers, and vases filled with flowers. A fire roared in the fireplace, completing the enticing, luxurious atmosphere.

“My mother insisted we stay here.” Gabe closed the door and swept me into his arms. “She wanted everything to be absolutely perfect for the wedding. The reception’s here, and she didn’t want us traveling anywhere else. She doesn’t want to let us out of her sight.”

My stomach twisted with nerves. “But she’s never even met me.”

“My brothers have met you—and they both like you. Even Levi, and he never likes anybody.” Gabe grinned. “My mom’s going to love you. She’ll probably love you so much, you’ll have to wipe yourself down with a sanitizing wipe once I peel her off you. And you already know my soon-to-be-stepfather—he’s a big fan of yours. So stop worrying.”

Cynthia Betts’s fiancé was an old professor of mine from MIT, Alexander Viejo. I hadn’t seen him in years, but I could never forget him. He was a famous biochemist and also a brilliant professor. I’d audited one of his senior-level classes my sophomore year and found him fascinating. It would be wonderful to have another scientist around, someone to brainstorm with.

Gabe’s phone buzzed. He looked at it, a deep V forming in his brow. “Here we go,” he said, right before he answered it. “Hi, Mom.” He rolled his eyes at me as she jabbered away on the other end of the line.

I got up and headed into the bedroom to give him some privacy. I marveled at the enormous, ornately carved four-poster bed. At least the bed, and what we could do in it, would make Gabe happy. He seemed genuinely stressed out about spending time with his family, which was funny. The big, bad alpha CEO’s mother gave him a headache.

I went to the walk-in closet and examined my clothes. Since she’d been feeling better and had too much time on her hands, Hannah had insisted on buying me an entire new wardrobe for this trip. “You’re meeting his mother, Lauren. This is it,” she’d said, packing dress after dress into my garment bag.

“This is what?” I’d asked.

Hannah looked pained, as if I were about to leave the house wearing white after Labor Day. “Never mind.”

I touched the different clothes she’d chosen for me. The outfits were beautiful and stylish, more formfitting than anything I was used to wearing. They’d also cost the equivalent of a year’s tuition at a trendy boarding school, but Hannah wouldn’t listen to my protests.

Gabe poked his head in, looking wary. “We have an hour, then they’re on their way up.”

“Who?”

“All of them.” He sighed and looked at the bed, then looked back at me. “Do you think we have time to…take the edge off a little?”

I arched an eyebrow. “Whatever do you mean?”

Gabe closed the space between us, pressing his lips to my neck. He rubbed his thickening cock against me, making me swoon.

“I mean something like this.” He grabbed me, hoisting me up until my legs were wrapped around him. “Hmmm…now, what should I do with you, babe? So many positions, so little time…”

“Whatever you want. You know I’ll like it.”

He laughed, setting me back on the ground. He kissed me deeply, making me woozy. “You will like it. Now, walk over to the bed and just stand there. Don’t turn around.”

I did as I was told, listening to him as best I could over my own breathing, which had turned ragged. He unzipped his suitcase and, after rustling around for a bit, came back, still behind me where I stood at the foot of the bed. “Put your hands up over your head.”

I did, and I watched him twine one of his ties around my wrists to the bedpost. He pulled it tight.

Gabe was tying me up.

“Um…honey?”