Chained to You (Dark Billionaires 3, 4)

Andy cupped my face. "Mia, stop it."

I lifted my gaze. "But I can't help myself."

Andy squeezed my shoulders tight. "I know it's hard. I know you haven't met many men, so of course you'd fall for him. He has money. He's good-looking. He's kind to you. You've spent a lot of your time with him."

I nodded, knowing where his argument was coming from. Yes, it was true I hadn't met many men. Yes, it was also true James was indeed wealthy, good-looking, and kind to me. And yes, the majority of my time so far was with him. Not to mention the crazy, amazing sex we had.

"It's only natural a girl would fall for that type of man," Andy said. "You're a bit confused at the moment. I know because I was confused as well."

I frowned. "You were? With Matt?"

He nodded. "It was one hell of a misery for me." He sighed. "Fact is I'm still unsure where Matt and I are going."

"So..." I began, feeling a little like he was the wiser one between us in the romance department. "What happened? What did you do?"

"To clear my head?" He chuckled.

I nodded furiously.

"I distanced myself," he replied. "Actually, more like I ran away. I decided I didn't want to see his face."

I nodded in understanding. Perhaps I needed to distance myself from James, too? To clear my head, so to speak?

I glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed it was getter closer to three in the afternoon now.

"I better get going," I said.

Andy nodded.

"Mia," he called out as I was about to depart.

"Yes?" I asked at the door.

He paused for a moment, as if he were considering his words carefully. "You're young. Maybe it's just infatuation."

I nodded. "I know," I said. "Don't worry. I won't do anything stupid."

He smiled. "See you tomorrow, then."

I waved and then left him.

As I was walking toward the lift, my cell dinged, informing me I had a message. Curious as to who it was, I quickly checked it.

The moment I saw James's name on the screen, I smiled in delight. I scanned through the message and felt my heart quickened. As per usual, James was straight to the point, and of course, exuded a sense of demand, even in text message form.

We're going out tonight. Wear something nice. Be ready by seven. See you soon.

James.

After placing my cell phone back into my satchel, I headed into the elevator, all the while wondering where he'd be taking me for dinner this time. I do hope it was a restaurant where they had pasta. Thinking about food made my tummy grumbled, and instantly, I couldn't wait to have afternoon tea with Savanah.

Chapter 23

James

The moment James Maxwell closed the door of their hotel suite behind him, his eyes shifted over and came to rest on his mistress Mia Donovan. His gaze marveled at the slender form that never ceased to fascinate him. Tonight, she wore a sexy cocktail dress made of silk and lace, which hugged her willowy body seductively, showing off her small waist and slender curves. With her hair fashioned up into a loose bun atop her head, she looked alluring, and James was more drawn to her than usual.

Standing there near the door, his features broodingly dark and an arrogant smirk playing about his lips, he eyed the lacy material of the dress. His mind instantly went into a frenzy of wild imagination about how he'd rip that beautifully offensive thing from his mistress's body. Fuck! He had been imagining that since he had laid eyes on her earlier this evening when he had come to pick her up for dinner.

He had told her via text messages to wear something nice, and indeed, this was fucking nice. Enticing, in fact.

Mia turned to look at him then, as if she could sense him watching her. She gave him a tentative smile, a sort of invitation that James didn't miss.

Sparks coursed aggressively throughout his body, and James had to tell himself to calm down. He had to tell his cock to calm down and not spring into arousal at the slightest hint of a smile from that innocent beauty.

He'd have her soon enough. There was no rush.

He relaxed his body as he stood there staring at her, the woman who, unbeknownst to him, had meekly waltzed into his life and tenderly changed him, capturing and imprisoning his heart within her hands.

Mia licked her lips and said, "Thanks for the other day by the way."

She paused, and James waited for her to go further, because he knew there was more.

"I didn't know what came over me. I won't do it again... Crying in front of you I mean."

Bright red creeped across her cheeks as she cast her eyes from his intense stare.

James cocked his head to one side at her statement. He knew she was talking about the other day when they had been on the rooftop of the hospital after she had witness what he assumed was Matt's love confession to Andy. Instantly, the images of that morning flashed in his mind, and he felt something akin to longing and love flourishing within his heart.

Fuck! What the hell is that?

Once again, it came. The dainty aroma of her frangipani scent. The feathery brushes of her hair against his chin as she rested her head against his chest while she was

sobbing. The enticing softness of her body intimately pressed to him as he embraced her. She had felt right in his arms, as if she belonged there.

The embrace had felt so fucking natural, in fact, that it scared the living daylights out of him. But of course, James was a man who was used to being in control. He was a man on top of his world; thus, he was able to constraint his emotions successfully and pretend this lovey-dovey stuff didn't affect him... couldn't affect him.

He wasn't the type of man who allowed his emotions to rule his head. After what he'd gone through... After what Whitney had done to him... Twisting his unconditional love to suit her selfishness. He would never allow his emotions to rule his mind and cloud his judgement ever again.

Fact was James only reserved that type of unconditional love for his daughter Aria. And of course, the unconditional loyalty and affection toward his immediate family, especially his brothers.

As for Mia Donovan? Yes. He definitely had great affection for her. He doted on her. But love?

He immediately dismissed the thought from his mind and came to sit on the couch. He made himself comfortable and crossed one leg over the other as he leaned back against the leather. Sitting there in that dominating position in his three-piece suit, he was powerful, highly dangerous, and fucking sexy.

"Strip for me, Mia," he demanded, his tone deep and hard with an intense erotic edge.

The moment he made the command, Mia swallowed nervously. She tentatively licked her lips again and asked, her voice soft and barely above a whisper, "Are we doing it?"

"Yes," came his blunt reply. "Are you not up to it tonight?"

She quickly shook her head. "That's not it," she said. "But you could have told me it's more of a routine of sorts, this sex thing between us. It's like almost every night, isn't it? Is it even normal to have so much sex?"

That made him smile with amusement. "It's normal where I'm concerned."

She twisted her lips at his statement. "Then I don't think you're normal, James."

He laughed, which made her scowl at him. Fuck, he thought, she's cute when she frowns.

James said, once he had managed to calm his laughter, "I don't want to be a normal man where you're concerned, Mia. Don't you think I'm special to you?"