Bride By Design: Flights Of Fancy (Taken By The Billionaire) By Alicia Roberts Bride by Design: Flights of Fancy (Taken By The Billionaire) Copyright 2012 by Alicia Roberts This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental.
Adult Reading Material Disclaimer: The material in this book is for mature audiences only and contains graphic sexual content. It is intended only for those aged 18 and above.
*** Bride by Design: Flights of Fancy (Taken By The Billionaire) ***
Lisa has just lost her job. Her career as an aspiring designer seems to be going nowhere and she doesn't need any more complications in her life right now. She especially doesn't need a passionate encounter with her crush on a midnight flight from LA to New York. She doesn't need him to pursue her, she doesn't want to be confused about his motives, and she doesn't want to get entangled in a world she knows nothing about. But life has a strange sense of humor, and when her crush turns out to be billionaire real estate investor Colin Anderson, she finds herself enticed into a strange web of deceit…
Chapter One What was he doing here? I felt his eyes on me as soon as I sat down. A ripple of excitement and recognition coursed through my spine and I gave him a tiny smile before I put my head down and focused on my issue of Elle Décor. Green Eyes. That was the name I'd chosen for him, ever since that first day when I saw him having lunch on a park bench. I sat a few benches away, and when he finished his lunch, he walked past me and I felt a strange tingling sensation when our eyes met. His hair was
dirty blond, he was tall and tan. His smile was always mysterious, hinting that he knew what was on my mind. I began having lunch there whenever I could, always sitting a few seats away from him, scared of flying too close to the sun. We never spoke, barely exchanged glances, but I looked for him during my lunch break and I was sure he looked for me. It had been the highlight of my day for the past few months. And now he was sitting here, a few rows away, in the domestic departures lounge at LA airport. I'm going to ignore him, I thought nervously, and I turned a page of my magazine. A young family walked up and occupied the seats opposite me. They were busy rearranging their belongings, their backpack zip had torn and they needed to put the contents away. The dad was trying to make sure the toddler didn't start crying, and the mother was desperately trying to stuff things into her purse. "Use this," I said, offering the mother my folded-up duffel bag. I always carried it in my purse for emergencies, but now it looked like they needed it more than me. I saw the relief in her face as she thanked me briefly and emptied the contents of the backpack. I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye and looked up, and immediately glanced down quickly. Green Eyes was walking towards me. Oh no. What was happening? Did I have spinach in my teeth, did I do something wrong? I stared into my magazine as if it was the most amazing thing on Earth, trying to ignore Green Eyes walking up to me with a strangely focused look on his face. And then he was standing right next to me, and I could smell his scent, cedar and cinnamon and something musky. He bent down to my feet, and I heard him say, "Here, you dropped this." I looked up in surprise. He was holding my small notebook - it must've fallen out of my bag when I rummaged through it looking for the folded duffel. I blushed and felt relieved. What did I think would happen? "Uh, thanks," I said shakily, smiling nervously. His voice was deep and melodious, and his eyes were crinkling with amusement. I watched him turn around and walk away, my body surging with relief and disappointment. Two airline staff were standing near the gate, and Green Eyes walked up to them. I saw him say something, and then I felt their eyes on me. Nervously, I looked down again and turned another page of the magazine. The three of them walked over to the counter, and after a few moments they all walked back. "First Class passengers may now board flight UA418 to JFK Airport, New York." People sitting near me began to arrange their belongings in anticipation, as a small handful of people walked through the gates. Green Eyes was one of them - of course, he would travel first class, I thought, remembering my flight in to LA, squished into the tiny Economy Class seat and surrounded by screaming children and people with BO. After a few minutes, the announcer declared that families with small children and loyalty club members could now board, and when the final announcement for the "rest of the passengers" came, I joined the long queue of people who came last in the airline's priorities. "I'm sorry ma'am," said the uniformed lady when she looked at my boarding pass. "Could you come this way with me, please?" My heart sank. This would have to happen to me - what was wrong, did they think I needed my luggage scanned again? We walked up to the counter, and I felt the eyes of everyone in the queue on me. "Could you show me your boarding pass and ID document please, ma'am?" Her voice was clipped, monotone and official. I obliged, handing over the documents silently. I watched as she typed a few things into the computer. After what seemed like ages she looked up again and said in her official voice, "I apologize for the delay, ma'am. We've now upgraded you to First Class."
It took a moment to sink in. "What?" I shook my head, no. "I'm sorry, there's been some mistake. I never requested an upgrade. And I can't pay for it." And I wasn't going to pay, I added to myself - I was already broke and every cent I had was accounted for. I braced myself for an argument. She smiled, and I saw a flicker of curiosity in her professional eyes. "No ma'am. The upgrade is complimentary and everything has been done for you, just relax in First Class." Once more, the words didn't make sense for a few seconds. And then I remembered Green Eyes talking to the staff, and wondered if he had anything to do with this. "Complimentary - from who?" The lady smiled again, and this time her manner was completely official. "I've been instructed to let you know that you've been upgraded, compliments of the airline." I let the words roll around in my head - "I've been instructed to let you know". What did that mean? She handed me my new boarding pass, and escorted me to the front of the queue. I realized I wouldn't get any answers, and I might as well take a stroke of good fortune when I could, instead of agonizing over the details. Green Eyes was sitting in the first row and was busy checking something on his phone when I walked past. A stewardess rushed up and stowed my cabin luggage overhead, and I settled down into the wide, luxurious leather seat. So this is First Class, I thought, and I'm finally sitting here instead of just walking past into the Economy section. There were only six seats, three on each side with a wide aisle space in between them. I was sitting in the last row, diagonally behind Green Eyes, which meant that I could see him but he couldn't see me unless he turned around. I love flying, but the past week had been exhausting, running around and visiting various homes in LA for my work. And now it was almost midnight, and I stifled a yawn, waiting for the plane to take off. I rummaged through the brochures in the seat pocket in front of me and found a menu. Although I hate airline food with a vengeance, the meals on this menu sounded like they belonged in an expensive restaurant, not on a domestic flight to New York. I smiled in anticipation. My roommate, Katie, had waxed lyrical about the food and service in First Class. She'd know - her boyfriend Jeff frequently took her to exotic destinations and they always flew first class. Of course, he was a douche, but that was a completely different issue… The plane taxied along and finally lifted off with a whoosh. I was thrown back in my seat as I watched the lights of LA twinkle beneath us, forming pretty and intricate patterns, until we finally left them behind. Once the plane had steadied, a stewardess brought the meals' cart along. I watched as she fixed my folding table, and draped a white cloth over it. I chose braised beef with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables, a glass of champagne, and a slice of tiramisu for dessert. The meal was as delicious as I'd hoped, served on white china with silver cutlery, and the tiramisu could hold its own against any New York bakery. I grinned as I finished my meal, wondering why they never served us tiramisu in Economy Class, and sipped on a second glass of white wine as the stewardess took away my used plates and folded away the table. I might as well enjoy this, I thought, requesting another glass of white wine. The responsible part of my brain scolded me - you're drinking far too quickly, she said. But I told her to shut up - the next day was Sunday and I might as well enjoy myself. By the time the cabin lights were dimmed and the other passengers in First Class had adjusted their seats and lay tucked under airline blankets, I was overcome by a feeling of drowsiness and slight intoxication. I was beginning to regret having so many drinks - I'm normally the boring, conscientious kind of girl who avoids bars and alcohol, and the little bit I'd had was starting to get to my head. I groaned internally. At this rate, I'd be asleep in a few minutes, and I wouldn't be able to enjoy my first and only First Class experience. I saw Green Eyes stand up, and my sleepiness reduced a little bit. I tried to breathe steadily and think straight as he walked up to me. I hadn't dropped anything, had I? "Come with me," he whispered, and grabbed my wrist. His fingers formed a tight ring, and my skin felt hot where he was touching me. He
pulled me behind him till we were in the bathroom, which he locked behind us. Even the bathroom is nicer in First Class, I thought hazily, looking around and noticing how large and pretty it was. My eyes finally settled on his and I felt a thrill of the unknown. Why had I let him drag me in here? He was smiling at me, and I wondered what to do. I'd always known that this guy was far too good-looking for me, and now I knew that he was also far too rich, and far too smooth for me. His scent tickled my nostrils again, and I breathed in the cedar-ery, muskey smell. I realized that he was pressing me against the wall with one hand. His other hand was stroking a strand of my hair, and now he was running his fingers down my cheek. "We're finally here," he whispered into my ear. "I've been thinking of you for so long." "Have you?" I asked stupidly. He leaned back and looked at me, running his eyes up and down slowly. I felt a shiver as he took in everything, his eyes moving slowly and greedily, as if I was a meal he'd like to eat up. I was wearing a comfortable jersey maxi dress for the flight, and suddenly I wished I'd worn something sexier. His hand moved up from my shoulder along my neck and into my hair. His fingers interlaced with my hair, and he pulled my head down, so I was forced to look up at him. His green eyes were sparkling with a dark need. He moved his head down to kiss me, his lips were almost on top of mine, when he moved back in an abrupt, surprised motion. "How much have you had to drink?" His voice was soft and wary. Oh shit. He was stopping now? I felt my face flushing and I muttered, "Just a bit." "And how drunk are you?" I took a deep breath. "I'm not drunk. Maybe a bit tipsy. High enough to want this. But not drunk enough that I don't know what's going on." His lip curved up slightly. "And what's going on?" The question left me reeling. What was going on, why was I in an airplane bathroom with Green Eyes? The whole thing seemed unreal. I'd fantasized about Green Eyes often enough, but it was usually us in a bedroom somewhere, lying in soft silky sheets and devouring each other slowly. Certainly not whispering naughtily in a tiny bathroom. Was I being presumptuous, what did he want with me, a timid, mousy girl? I reached out with one hand and touched his shirt, just below his shoulders. In my fantasies he was naked, but now he was wearing a white shirt and formal pants. I ran my hand down slowly - his muscles were rock hard and I felt my stomach tightening, knowing how muscular he was under that shirt, imagining him bare-chested. I reached up and started to pull him down towards my mouth and then I stopped. "Do I have bad breath?" Alcohol had loosened my inhibitions a bit. Green Eyes laughed softly. "I had a bit to drink, too." He moved closer to me and began to run his lips slowly up the side of my neck. I whimpered softly in anticipation and fear. "We shouldn't be blocking this bathroom for so long." He nibbled my ear gently. "Everyone else in First Class is asleep."
I didn't believe him, though I desperately wanted to. A warning bell sounded in a distant part of my brain, but he was so close to me, his lips burning up my skin, and I wanted more of him. I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my fingertips down and running them along his strong back. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pushed me forward, till I was pressed up against him, my breasts crushed against his hard chest. I could feel his hardness against me, and the knowledge of his arousal thrilled me. I leaned my head back, and he pressed his lips down on mine. His kiss was demanding, and I gave him what he sought, our mouths feverish and our bodies aching. I felt him gathering up the long skirt of my maxi dress, pulling it up slowly and revealing my bare legs. When it was high enough, he slipped his hands underneath and crushed my ass cheeks in his palms. I moaned softly into his mouth and he pulled back. "You look so hot," he murmured, "I love seeing you so aroused." I flushed with embarrassment but I couldn't control the way I felt as his hands moved along my ass, groping and squeezing. He moved around till he was behind me, and his hands were on my lower stomach, just above my panties. He walked me to basin, forcing me to look at our reflection in the mirror. "I want you to watch yourself come," he whispered. "We'll both watch." I whined softly with embarrassment, pressing my ass against his hardness, grinding slowly and trying to make him change his mind. He moved his hands down, along the crotch of my panties. My face was flushed, reflected back at me through the mirror, my eyes glazed with lust, my lips slightly parted. I was thrusting my ass against him, but despite the hardness I felt, he seemed relatively calm. His face was a bit flushed, and his eyes were glinting jade with desire. I closed my eyes as his fingers slipped underneath the material and discovered my swollen lips. He stroked me gently, making me wetter, and then his fingers left and moved to my thighs. "Please," I panted, "Don't stop." "All in good time." His fingers pressed against my inner thighs and he made me spread my legs, wide apart, so my lips were spread and begging for his touch. He moved his other hand down and found my engorged nub, which he twirled and stroked till I almost came right then. His lips were on my neck again, sucking gently, and I finally begged him for more, to put his fingers inside me. He slid two fingers in slowly, and I felt myself spread wide as they entered me. I was trying to suck them in with my muscles, and I felt myself grinding under his fingers. He held me expertly, his fingers on my clit still teasing me, and then began to thrust harder into my pussy, his fingers spreading me and filling me over and over again, till I moaned and felt the pressure building up. "Yes," he murmured, "Come for me." His fingers slammed into me again and with a stifled groan I felt the release as the waves washed over me and I came wordlessly, trying my best not to scream. Even as I climaxed, he kept thrusting his fingers into me, his hand on my clit pressing down and rubbing, intensifying the sensation till I was spent and exhausted. When it was over, I leaned forward and grabbed the basin to steady myself. He pulled his fingers out of me, and I heard him grab some tissues and clean himself up, before he unlocked the door and slipped out. Quickly, I locked the door again, and peeled off my drenched panties. They were too wet to wear, so I tossed them into the bin meant for tampons and pads, and cleaned myself up as well as I could.
Chapter Two
I unlocked the door and peered out, feeling guilty and expecting to see a long queue of angry people with small bladders, or at least a disapproving stewardess. There was nobody there. Breathing a sigh of relief, I almost ran to my seat, sinking down into the soft, creamy leather and wrapping the blanket over myself. I turned to face the window, hoping nobody knew what had happened and feeling reassured by the dim cabin lights and heavy breathing of our sleeping co-passengers. I sneaked a look at Green Eyes. He was staring at his movie screen, wrapped in headphones and seemingly engrossed in the lives of people on the screen. I shuddered inside - I still didn't know his name, and he seemed to be indifferent to what had just happened. I didn't want to think. The exhaustion and alcohol combined into a powerful elixir, and I found myself drifting off to sleep. I've always slept soundly on planes, and tonight was no exception. Before I knew it, the cabin lights had been switched on and the stewardess was handing me a hot, moist towel. As soon as I covered my face and allowed the steaming towel to wake me up, the memories of Green Eyes and the bathroom flooded back. I groaned inside. What had gotten into me? I'm normally the least reckless and impulsive person around, and I'd just gone and had a one night stand with Green Eyes. Oh no. So this was what months of silent lusting came to? My conscience shook her head, disgusted with me. I'd never go to the park again, and where I'd hoped for a dashing, sweet relationship, I'd certainly never see Green Eyes again. Putting the hot towel away, I sneaked a glance at Green Eyes. He never once looked back towards me and seemed completely indifferent, as if the whole thing meant nothing to him. I sighed, and ran my hands through my hair and straightened my chair, preparing for the landing. A piece of paper seemed to have drifted to the ground but I ignored it, it was probably the menu or something. Once the plane had taxied up to the gate at JFK airport, I grabbed my bags and strode out. Green Eyes slid along to my side, forcing me to walk beside him. I was a bit surprised, since I'd expected him to completely ignore me. "Aren't you going to answer me?" he asked. I hadn't heard him ask me anything, so I looked at him through narrowed eyes. "What about?" "Umm, you know." No, I clearly didn't. I had no idea what he was on about, and I figured he was playing some kind of game I didn't understand. "We can let it go," I said, "You don't need to drag it out." I tried to outpace him. Both of us walked straight past the baggage claim carousel - I didn't travel with checked baggage, and it seemed like he didn't either. He looked a bit surprised at my answer, but walked faster to keep up with me. "No really," he said, "When and where?" I gave him a look of disbelief. "I don't know what you're talking about." "But what about the note?" "What note?" I waited for an answer, but he merely gave me a look of despair, slowing down and finally letting me outpace him. So that was that, I thought. He was good looking, and obviously had a way with my body. I suppressed a smile of triumph as I remembered the shattering orgasm I'd had. But he was also rich, smooth and cold. I'd never go to the park again, and I'd never see him again.
Chapter Three "Katie?" I called out as I entered the tiny apartment. I was sure she'd be at home - it was Sunday morning and unless she'd stayed over at Jeff's she was probably asleep. I locked the door behind me, and Katie stumbled out of her room, her hair a mess. "You're home!" she exclaimed, embracing me in a warm hug. "How was LA?" "Yeah, it's good to see you too," I smiled, even as I tried to be cool. I dragged my bags into my bedroom and she followed me. The place was still a mess - I hadn't had time to tidy up before I'd left, and Katie obviously never thought to put things away. "LA was ok, a bit boring. The designers were full of themselves, of course, and all the houses were really pretty. As you'd expect, if you have millions of dollars to spend." I looked around my own room wryly, thinking how ironic it was that an aspiring interior designer lived in a pigsty. "Did you see anyone famous?" Katie's eyes were gleaming with hope, but I laughed shortly. "No, it was all work and a tiny bit of sightseeing. As you know, I'm far too broke to hang out with the rich and famous." Katie smiled thinly and nodded. "So, no news on the job front yet?" I sighed and shook my head, no. "How about you? Is Jeff still away on business?" "Yeah." It was Katie's turn to sigh. "I think he'll be back on Monday." "Hmm. Any plans for today?" "I'm having lunch with my folks, they'll drive into the city. Wanna come along?" I shook my head. "Thanks, but I better unpack and see if there are any 'Designer Wanted' ads." "Well, good luck." She wandered off, probably to call Jeff and not get a response, and I went back to unpacking. I sorted out my clothes, regretting that I'd wasted one of my panties on a completely undeserving (but hot!) guy, and now my First Class memory was bittersweet. Had Green Eyes paid for my upgrade? I breathed in deeply, filling my lungs with regret. Who did he think he was? I never should've let them upgrade me. As I sorted my clothes away, a strange sadness started to come over me. My whole life was coming apart, I thought melodramatically. I'd moved to New York to pursue my dream of becoming an interior designer, but jobs were always few and far between, and in this bad economy, no-one wanted to waste cash on a designer. The rich and famous were already catered to, and it was hard to break into the market. The one job I'd managed to finally get, writing interior design articles, was being taken away from me, and from next Monday I'd be officially unemployed. I'm tough, I've gotten through a lot. And I could handle losing my job; I waited tables for an entire year, trying to break into the industry and I could do it again if I needed to. No, I had bigger problems. Katie poked her head back in. "Have you talked to Alex recently?" I nodded. "I called him from LA before my flight, he's doing relatively well. The counselors sound pretty good, the food's great, and he enjoys the hikes they go on. He's already making friends, I guess he's as outgoing and charming as ever …" My voice trailed off with wonder. My baby brother Alex was so different from me. While I was timid and shy, he was happy and carefree, making friends easily and coasting through life.
Our parents had died when I was nineteen, and he'd stayed with me while I went to college part-time and worked part-time. I'd been responsible for Alex for so long, and even after he graduated from college and got a job, I thought of him as my baby brother. I'd been proud of him for doing well, but clearly things hadn't been easy for him either. He'd gotten into debt doing drugs, and I had freaked out when I learnt about his addiction. Thankfully he was in rehab now, and things would get better for him. He worked in advertising and was great at what he did - his job would be waiting for him when he left rehab, but I'd promised to help out with the debt he'd gotten into. And now I'd just lost my own job. How would I help Alex out with his debt? Katie smiled and said, "It's good to hear he's doing well. Are you going to see him today?" "No." My voice was tinged with regret. "I'm just too tired and I wouldn't have time to drive back. I told him I wouldn't be able to make it today. I'll go next week. Did you call Jeff?" Katie made a face. "He's not answering the phone." "Where is he again?" "He says Chicago. Can you imagine? It must be so boring for him!" "Mm-hm." I stayed non-committal, not saying I thought he was with someone else. I'd seen him in the park one day, with his arm wrapped around another woman. I mentioned this to Katie and when she asked Jeff, he'd shrugged and claimed she was just a friend. "So how are things between the two of you? Gonna move in together someday?" Katie refused to take the bait. "I'll wait. He's a great guy, he's been hurt before, that's why he's scared of commitment." He's a douche, that's why he's scared of commitment, I thought. But instead I just said, "How long are you going to wait, Katie?" She gulped. "As long as it takes. I'm not going to scare him off. He's a great guy." She sounded defensive. I tried to cheer her up a bit, "As long as he's not cheating on you, it's ok if he's a bit flakey, I guess." But it was Katie's turn to look worried. "I'm not sure, Lisa. I feel like he's been ignoring me lately. Sometimes he takes a call and I feel like he's talking to a woman…" I was worried. "Look, Katie, just because you've been with him for the last three years…" She shook her head. "No. I'm sure it's nothing, I'm probably worrying over nothing." "You're right. But if you don't think he's treating you right, you should just leave him. You deserve a great guy." Katie looked at me, her eyes soulful. "You think so? I've thought about leaving him, but I want to work things out. But if I did have to leave him… I'm not sure how I could do it, it's been so long with him, I don't know how I could move on…" "Don't worry about moving on. Trust me, if you do break up, I'll be right here for you. I'll help you through it." "Promise?" "I promise. Now cheer up, I'm sure it's nothing, he's probably just busy with work. Give him a good welcome when he comes back." I winked and Katie laughed, hoping for the best, and then she left me alone to my cleaning and tidying.
Chapter Four
"See you tomorrow, Matt." "See ya, Lisa." My heart sank as I walked out the building. Three years, and this was what it came to. Tomorrow would be my last day in this tiny office, and I was sorry to be saying goodbye. After I finished college, I'd moved to New York to try to get a job as an interior designer. I loved beauty and style, making homes look prettier and the joy that came with a successful makeover. I was determined that it would happen - I was prepared to follow my passion and I knew that somehow, someday, I'd be an interior designer. I kept getting rejection letter after rejection letter. But finally, after a year of waiting tables and applying for jobs, I landed a gig writing about beautiful homes for an interior design blog, FamiliesAndHomes.com. The pay barely covered my bills, but the work was fun. As the blog became popular and got more readers I gained a bit of exposure and snagged a handful of low-paying gigs designing homes and nurseries on a budget, trying to please tasteless housewives who wanted to impress the neighbors. Things seemed to finally be moving along - until the blog was sold. I couldn't blame Matt and Glenn. They'd always dreamed of opening a furniture and home-wares store together, and now they'd been offered seven figures for their blog by a prominent media company. They'd been great bosses; it was just too bad that the media company buying us out had their own staff and didn't need me on board anymore. I wandered down the street slowly, lost in my own thoughts. I barely noticed the large black limo following me, until it pulled up alongside and the driver honked. When I looked through the rolled-down window, I saw Green Eyes leaning out. "Get in," he called softly. I shook my head and kept walking. Who did he think he was? And I couldn't waste my time with him, I needed to get a new job, pronto. The car kept following me. "Please, Lisa, get in. I swear, I just need to talk to you." How did he know my name? Come to think of it, how did he know where to find me? My heart thumped in sudden fear and alertness. People were starting at me, and I noticed the limo was holding up traffic. "Just get in the car, lady," yelled the driver of a red Saab. "We all need to get home." I slid in, mortified, and glared at Green Eyes. "I have pepper spray in my bag," I said, "And I'm not afraid to use it." He chuckled, and rolled up the window. "I promise, I just want to talk." "How did you know where to find me? And how do you know my name?" He smiled. His eyes were shades of grey and green, and his presence was making my body react in ways my brain disapproved of. I couldn't forget that amazing orgasm I'd had up in the air, but I tried to push it out of my mind and focus on the situation at hand. Green Eyes was obviously crazy, he'd found out my name and where I worked. My mind was whirling at the absurdity of it all. I didn't feel like I was in any danger yet, but I kept a hand on my pepper spray and decided to give him two minutes to explain himself. The limo windows were all dark, and nobody could see inside. "You didn't come to the park. So I had to call a friend at the airline to tell me your details." I shuddered. "And why do you need my details? Are you some kind of rich American Psycho?" I noticed now that the car seemed to be winding its way down to the Bronx, to my apartment. So he really had pulled all my details! "Relax." He sounded annoyed now. "I'm not a psychopath. Don't you know who I am?"
I made sure I was near the door. Manhattan traffic was always slow, but peak hour traffic moved at a snail's pace. I had no doubt I could jump out at the traffic lights if I needed to. Green Eyes saw that I was preparing to make a run for it and said, "Please. My name's Colin Anderson. Surely you've heard of me?" I sank back in my seat. So that's why he looked so familiar - he was always in Forbes, Fortune, New York Magazine and the tabloids. Being a billionaire playboy will do that to you, I guess. Once again, the absurdity of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. So Green Eyes, my random park crush and airplane one-nighter was a successful, famous real estate developer, who was linked with a different model or society beauty every other day. "So," I asked warily, "In addition to being a real estate tycoon, you're also a psychopath who preys on girls in parks?" He laughed out loud this time. "No, seriously," he stuttered when his laughter stopped. "I just want to talk to you." Something about his relaxed manner seemed convincing. "Ok, shoot. What is it?" "Didn't you get the note I left you?" He looked serious. I shook my head. "What note?" He sighed with exasperation. "I left a note on your seat. Clearly you were more interested in sleeping than talking to me after our…" His eyes moved down to my breasts and I drew in a quick breath before he looked up at my eyes again. "Anyway, I wanted to ask you out properly. You know, a date and all." "There was a note?" I was incredulous. I didn't know if I should believe him or not. "Look, it must've slipped off when you woke up." I nodded. "Fine, you've redeemed yourself. You're not a strange jerk saying weird things to me at the airport." We exchanged smiles. Maybe this wasn't so bad, after all. I was still a bit overwhelmed that he'd tracked me down and turned out to be a famous entrepreneur. "But I don't really have much time for a relationship," I admitted. "Why not?" Colin's eyes were sharp and narrow. Clearly this was a man who was not used to hearing "no". "Umm…" Surely exposing myself as a jobless loser wasn't a great way to start off with a guy I wanted to impress. I gulped. "There's a lot going on in my life right now." "Why don't you tell me about it?" He slid down the partition separating us from the driver and said, "We'll get down here, thanks." The driver pulled up and we slid out in front of a cafe. I followed Colin inside, and we sat down and ordered coffees. My stomach was growling at the sight of all the pastries displayed, but I didn't want to seem greedy. "So," said Colin, as soon as we were alone, "What's going on in your life? Why can't you have a relationship?" I tried not to stare at him in disbelief. Were we really having this conversation? Most New York men balk at saying the "R" word anytime before the first three months together, if not the first three years. Colin was linked with a different, gorgeous woman each day - or maybe this kind of talk was the way he got linked with them in the first place. But why go to so much effort for me? "Why are you so interested in relationships?" I tried to keep the disbelief and doubt out of my voice. Thankfully Colin didn't seem offended. "I like you," he said. His eyes seemed thoughtful. "I saw you in the park, and… I didn't want to scare you off, but I thought we could have something." I wanted to nod, but something in my stomach told me things weren't what they seemed.
"So why not just ask me out? Why wait till last weekend?" He smiled ruefully. "I thought you might not be right for me, that you were just a crush. But then I saw you at the airport, helping out that noisy family… And I knew you were special." His voice was soft and there was a strange hopefulness in his eyes. The hair on the back of my neck stood up when I looked at him - he was so beautiful, so magnetically attractive. I could understand why he'd seen so much success. He exuded charisma and talent, there was something so charming about him, and he seemed to genuinely care about me. I was sure whoever he was talking to felt like they were the center of his universe for that moment. It would be hard to say no to anything he wanted. "I guess a few dates once in a while couldn't hurt," I mused. I thought I saw that glint in his eye again. But it was gone before I could be sure, and he looked thoughtful and interested. "Tell me what's going on in your life, what's wrong?" He tilted his head and waited for me to answer. I took a deep breath. Now that I'd gotten over the "maybe he's a psychopath" doubts, and the shock that he was a billionaire playboy, Colin seemed so nice, so genuinely down-to-earth and interested in me. It wouldn't be fair to lie to him. "I lost my job," I admitted, and it all came rushing out. He prompted me at times, encouraging me to tell him everything, as he sat and nodded and took it all in. I heard warning bells ringing softly in the back of my mind. "Be mysterious," the How To Snag A Man guides all said, "Don't let him know everything about you, even if he seems nice." But it's not in my nature to be mysterious - I have a hard time opening up to people, but if I feel comfortable enough to talk about myself, then I don't believe in deceiving or holding back. Colin smiled and seemed very interested as I told him about how I'd gotten the job and how I'd lost it. "But I'm sure you'll get a new job soon," he encouraged. "Haven't you been applying?" "Of course I have, I know not to just sit around!" Colin merely smiled, so I went on, "But nobody's hiring. It's a bad economy, even bankers and doctors are losing their jobs, no-one needs luxuries like interior designers." "Some people do." There was a low rumble in Colin's voice. "You seem to have someone in mind?" And then it struck me that he worked in real estate, maybe he had contacts who…? I wanted to ask him if anyone he knew was hiring but I hesitated. The Man-Snagging guides definitely frowned upon asking your date for a job. And anyway, Colin didn't venture any further information about who might be hiring an interior designer, so I decided that I'd done enough talking about myself. "What about you?" I asked. "What's up in your world of real estate development?" I half-expected him to smile and shrug, and act as if I was too dumb to understand his work. So I was quite pleased when he started telling me about a new project he wanted to win. "There's a massive commission and profits involved," he said, "But that's not really the reason I want this project. I can't wait to see the finished work." I nodded, understanding. "That's exactly how I feel about my work - you want to see how much better things are once you've finished." "Exactly. And, the work is for Sir Donald Jeffreys." "The reclusive British businessman?" "Yep, that's the guy. He owns a completely undeveloped island in the British Virgin Isles - Manchala. Can you imagine, completely
untouched forests, pure sandy beaches, a tropical paradise… Anyway, it was one of the conditions of his purchase that Sir Donald build a resort on the island within five years." "And that's where you come in." I could feel his excitement, the potential to turn a completely untouched virgin island into a grand holiday destination. "Hopefully. Sir Donald hasn't decided who he wants to develop the final resort, but I'm in the running. I just need to beat out four other guys for the top spot, then it's all mine. Manchala." He said the word softly, caressing the vowels, and his face glowed with a fire reflecting a passion I understood. "The five of us developers that he's choosing from are meant to go to Manchala next week with out wives. We hang out with him on the island, show him our designs, and hopefully he's impressed with my ideas and we'll work together." We sat silently for a few minutes, Colin obviously daydreaming about what he'd do with the island, and I mused on how lucky he was to be passionate about his work. I was passionate about my work too, but I'd be lucky to see any success. "So, tell me about your family," he said abruptly, turning the full power of his intense gaze on me again. I paused for a minute, feeling a frisson of electricity travel between us, jolting me upright. "Well, there's my brother Alex - he works in marketing." I wasn't about to tell a stranger about Alex's troubles, so I went on, telling him about my parents' deaths, and how I'd taken care of Alex since I was nineteen. He cocked his head and murmured, "That must've been difficult for you. Alex was very lucky he had you to take care of him." "Well, of course I'd take care of him! I couldn't just send him away to some foster home, and our only relative is a strange old aunt who lives on farm in Darlington, Wisconsin. I wasn't about to send him there." Colin nodded. "And what about here? Do you have a roommate?" "Oh yes." There was so much I could say about Katie - we'd gone to high school together, and then university. She was one of the few high school friends who'd stayed with me through my mother's death and while I cut back on classes at university. I didn't have time to party with the rest of my classmates in between my part-time job and taking care of Alex, but Katie always understood. She moved to New York after graduation too, and got a job working in accounting. I would always be grateful to Katie for being there for me during my difficult times, and I was determined to help her out now, as much as I could. I babied her whenever possible, cooking meals in our tiny kitchen, cleaning up and doing most of the housework, and trying to be supportive of her crazy relationship which was obviously not working out. "You're such a good friend," Colin murmured, and I thought I caught a quizzical note in his voice. "How helpful of you." "Hmm." I shrugged. "It's the least I could do." I remembered the time I took sick leave from work to take care of Katie when she had the flu. "We're like sisters, we need to take care of each other. Katie's family lives up in New Jersey and she doesn't see them often. If we don't take care of each other, who will?" Colin was smiling sardonically. "Well, I'm sure her family could drive down more often if you weren't here. And I'm sure she's got other friends…" I shook my head. "No, it doesn't work that way. Katie's like the sister I never had … what about your family?" I tried to change the topic. Colin looked down at his empty coffee mug and shrugged. "Not much to tell. Only child, blah blah blah." He looked up at me again. "Wait here." I watched him go to the counter and pay our bill. The man thought of everything, he wouldn't even let me offer to pay. Or wait, was this just his way of running away from the conversation? I didn't know much about Colin, I rarely read the tabloids or the stories in Forbes, but I was fairly sure I'd read somewhere that he'd been adopted. Funny he didn't mention that.
Colin was back, and leading me out to the waiting limo. "No, it's fine," I protested weakly, "I can just take the subway." "This is important," said Colin. "We need to talk." He sounded serious. "Oh? About what?"
Chapter Five We slid into the limo and sat opposite each other. Colin's eyes were fixed on me, hard and unblinking. "I need to ask you something." "Ok…" I was feeling wary again. So this hadn't actually been a date? "When I saw you at that airport, you were so helpful to that family you'd never even met before. Are you always so helpful?" I smiled. "There's nothing wrong with being helpful. People help each other out whenever they can - you never know when you'll need to depend on the kindness of someone else. You might as well give back to the world a little and build up a bit of good karma." Colin gulped. "Yeah, you never know when you'll need to depend on someone else…" He trailed off mid-speech and continued to stare at me blankly, not seeming to see me. This was starting to get weird. "Well, why don't we call it a night?" I suggested. I didn't want him coming up to my tiny apartment and seeing what a pigsty I, a supposed design and home-beauty enthusiast, lived in. I should just take the subway and say goodbye here. He shook his head. "No, I have to ask you something." "Sure." That was like the tenth time he'd said that. "I need a favor." "Ok…" He took a deep breath. "Remember that Manchala project I told you about?" I nodded. Colin continued, "Well, reliable sources tell me that Sir Donald is becoming a family man. He's just had a grandchild and is getting notions that future generations shouldn't be selfish, hedonistic people. He wants his resort to cater to families." "So what's the problem?" "Well, Sir D. wants a family man to design the whole thing." "And you're obviously not one." The tabloids loved printing his photos, making snarky remarks about his "extravagant lifestyle" and "many lovers". He smiled ruefully. "I've been too busy being a selfish, hedonistic person, exactly the kind Sir Donald doesn't want." I shrugged. "I'm sure it's not such a big deal, your designs will probably speak for themselves." Colin sighed. "No, they won't, I'm assured of that. Sir Donald is intent on working with someone with a family, someone who knows what a
family needs, yada yada." "Right." I wondered where this was leading to. "So, what's the favor?" "Be my family." My eyes widened. "What?" He took a deep breath and went on. "I need you to pretend to be my wife." I shook my head, "No way, that's ridiculous. How does that even work?" "Come with me to Manchala, we'll pretend we fell in love and eloped." I looked at him like he was crazy. "This is nuts. You're kidding, right?" He raised an eyebrow and said, "Unfortunately, I'm dead serious. We'd only pretend to be married for Sir Donald, no-one in New York would find out. We'd come back from the trip and go our separate ways." Realization flooded in. "So that's what this has been all about." I felt my heart sinking in disappointment. "That's why you found me out, why we went out and had coffee." Of course, I was a nobody. Why would someone like Colin Anderson actually think of me as a person, someone he could be interested in? I'd been a fool to think that he'd actually wanted to spend some time with me. No, he just wanted me to help him get his deal, and then leave him alone. I tried not to let the disappointment show on my face, but Colin must've seen it because he went on, "No, of course not. I would've looked you up anyway. I really liked you." He was smooth, I had to give him that. "And when did you realize you needed a fake family?" "Late last week," he admitted. "So that was before our flight." I stared at him quietly, a strange feeling settling into my chest. Colin moved and sat next to me, placing a hand gently over mine. I pulled my hand away quickly, with the knowledge that even what happened on the plane had been fake. There was concern in his eyes. "Look, I'm sorry, you're taking this the wrong way." His words were tumbling out quickly. "What happened on the flight was crazy, it was an impulse, I'd seen you in that park so often, I felt like I'd burst if I didn't have you right then. I didn't mean anything… I didn't think ahead to asking you for this favor then. All I knew at that time was that I wanted you…" I stared at him, hands crossed tightly in my lap, wanting desperately to believe what he was saying. But it just wasn’t possible. "Your timing is too perfect," I said drily. He shook his head, "No, it wasn't timing. I saw you almost every day in that park. Do you know how crazy it drove me? I thought you were just a random crush, but I could never forget you, no matter which amazingly hot supermodel or socialite I was with. I wanted to be with you so desperately." "How flattering, you do know how to make a girl feel special." I wasn't amused, but some part of my body still remembered that this man sitting next to me was responsible for my orgasm. His proximity made a strange, tingling sensation mix in with that horrible disappointment in the pit of my stomach. I saw his eyes glint, and suddenly his arm was around my shoulder. He leaned into my ear and murmured, "I know you feel it too."
I closed my eyes as he wrapped his lips around my earlobe. He moved down my throat kissing me gently, and then his hand was in my hair, wrenching down my face so I was forced to look up. My lips were trembling in anticipation, and I felt my stomach tighten, and my nipples hardened into tiny peas. His lips slammed down onto mine, and his tongue thrust in and plundered my mouth. I responded fervently, not able to think, my body reacting on its own. As we kissed, he quickly undid the top buttons on my blouse, and I felt his hand on my breast, pressing down and kneading gently in circles. I felt my desire grow, and I arched my back and moaned into his mouth, wanting more. He could sense what I needed and his other hand moved down to my leg, and then I felt him sliding my skirt up. Suddenly my brain kicked into action and I pulled my mouth away from his. "No," I gasped, and pushed his hands away. I wanted him so badly, but I slid away from him quickly, over to the opposite seat and pulled my skirt down, even as a part of me wanted to hitch it higher, spread my legs apart and beg him to enter me. I noticed he was smiling and his eyes were glued on my breasts, and I blushed as I pulled my shirt close, fumbling with the buttons. I was such a fool! My brain chided me, and for once I was thankful that I'd been practical. I looked down as I did up the buttons, refusing to meet his eyes. I could sense his arousal and I knew I looked flushed and excited myself. "Are you sure you don't want more?" he asked softly. "Yes!" I snapped, glaring at him, even though my panties were moist. A part of me wished he'd lunge across and take me roughly, his chest pressing down on my breasts, his hands groping me… I pushed the thought out of my head. "You're not going to seduce me and take me to Manchala." He leaned back and looked relaxed. "Why, that thought had never even crossed me mind." He smiled, and I continued to glare at him through narrowed eyes. "However, I do think it'd be nice to have fun together on a gorgeous, tropical island…" "No. Way." I crossed my arms. Perhaps I wasn't as hot as his regular socialites and supermodels, but I wasn't an idiot. "Get some other floozy to do your dirty work." He leaned forward and looked at me earnestly. "Please," he said, his voice low and desperate, "There's no-one else I trust. The tabloids would have a field day if they knew I pretended to be married just to get a deal. I saw how you helped that family in the airport, and I know you're always helping the people around you. You're the only one I know who can do this, and who I can trust to not tell anyone else. Can't you do this for me, please?" I almost felt sorry for him. Almost, but not quite. I knew how it was to have a burning passion to create beautiful work, and I knew the desperation he felt. But he was rich, gorgeous and charming - even if he didn't get this deal, his life would still be pretty great. "You'll live," I said. "Not getting this deal won't kill you." "No," his eyes had that dreamy look again, "But this project is huge. It'll be my legacy, I'll really make a difference, something gorgeous…" He snapped to attention and focused on me again. "Are you sure there's no way you can help me out?" I shook my head no. "I don't think so. Get someone else." "I've said already, there's no-one else. The girls I know would be thrilled to turn me in and destroy me… Are you sure there's nothing I can say to convince you?" There was a thin, contemplative tone in his voice. I crossed my arms. "It's not going to happen." "Not even if I pay off your brother's gambling debts?"
I gasped. "How did you… What did…?" He smiled thinly again. "I have my sources. And I know about his addiction and rehab. Drugs can get expensive, can't they?" Of course, he probably sent someone sniffing around before he asked me. I said nothing so he went on, "Six figures of debt, it'll take you years to pay off, and I know you'll try to help him out, you always have. Come with me to Manchala for a week, and I'll pay it all off. One week - that's all I'm asking." It sounded tempting, almost too good. "I'll get a job," I said, "I'm sure I'll hear back from one of my interviewers soon. I'll be an interior designer, I'll be living my dreams and I won't need your money to pay off the debt." My boasts sounded hollow even to me. Colin narrowed his eyes and said, "You don't actually think you'll hear back from anyone, do you? If you really want to be a designer, come and work for me. I'll put you in charge of the design team for the Manchala resort if I get the deal, I promise. You'll be a real interior designer, not just an assistant fetching coffees for the actual designer." It sounded tempting. He probably saw the gleam in my eyes so he went on, "Manchala will be a big deal on your resume, you'll be living the dream. I won't interfere with your work, you'll get paid well, on top of me paying off your brother's debt." I looked out the window, pretending to think, but it really just took me an instant to decide. I'd do it. I probably wouldn't get a job as a designer in this economy, and the Manchala project would look amazing on my resume and establish me as a top designer. On top of that, the guy would pay off Alex's debt. What more did I want? I turned to him as if I was struggling with the idea. "It's just for a week, right? No more?" He nodded. "Once it's over, we'll announce a separation and we won't be in each other's lives. You'll work on the Manchala project and I promise, I won't interfere at all." "But what about if you get the deal? Won't Sir D. be disappointed that you're separated?" He shrugged. "It's business. Once we've signed the papers, he won't go back." "And we're keeping the whole thing a secret? How does that work?" "Sir Donald's British, he doesn't appear in the American tabloids. The other developers that'll be in Manchala are British, Indian and Australian. They won't spread the news. As long as we keep it a secret, and don't tell anyone ourselves, we'll be fine. The fake marriage and separation will be over before you know it, and nobody will know anything." I sat silent for a moment, and then finally nodded. "You'll pay off Alex's debt immediately, before we go to Manchala. And don't think you can seduce me - nothing's going to happen between us." He raised an eyebrow. "You drive a hard bargain." "I mean it. I have no reason to trust you, and I'm losing a week of my life. Pay off Alex's debt and then we're in business." He nodded. "Fine, give me your bank details, I'll transfer the money immediately." I pulled out a pen and paper and scribbled out the information. As I handed the paper over, I realized that we'd been sitting parked beside my apartment for the last couple of minutes. Colin tucked the paper into his wallet and said, "We're flying to Manchala on Sunday morning," My heart sank. Sunday was visitor's day at Alex's rehab and I wouldn't get to see him. But I'm paying off his debt, I told myself, and that must be worth it. I nodded. "I'll see you on Saturday morning," he continued. "We've some important things to take care of."
I nodded jerkily, not really wanting to know about Saturday, and stepped out of the limo. I rushed up to my apartment, and locked the door behind me, before I sank down onto my old couch. What had I just gotten into? I'd agreed to spend a week on a gorgeous Caribbean island with a guy who made my insides melt. Alex's debt was going to be paid off completely, and with any luck I'd have snagged a terrific interior design job. So why wasn't I thrilled? Colin was just too smooth, I thought, and I never knew where I stood with him. He seemed interested in me one minute, and the next minute I'd learn he was just using me. Of course, there was no denying the chemistry between us and the attraction we felt for each other. My body craved his touch, but I wasn't going to whore myself out for the money and work. If anything did happen between us, it would just give Colin more ammunition for manipulating me. I got up and rummaged through my files, looking for my passport and wondering how the week would turn out.
Alicia Roberts Is The Author Of: Keira's Journey: The Billionaire's Submissive, BDSM Romance Series: Keira's Punishment: The Billionaire's Submissive Keira's Visit: The Billionaire's Submissive 2 Keira's Past: The Billionaire's Submissive 3
The Billionaire's Contract, Adult Romance Series: The Billionaire's Contract: Proposals The Billionaire's Contract 2: Considerations The Billionaire's Contract 3: Aftermath
Bride By Design, Adult Romance Series Bride By Design: Flights of Fancy (Taken By The Billionaire) Bride By Design 2: Manchala On The Mind (Taken By The Billionaire) (Coming Soon) Bride By Design 3: Manchala Nights (Taken By The Billionaire)
She is available on twitter; her username is @AliciaRRoberts
She blogs at http://aliciarroberts.wordpress.com Her email address is
[email protected]
Extract From The Billionaire's Contract: Proposals Description: Sparks fly when Brad and Alexis meet. Brad is the new heir to Reinehart Industries, and Alexis is a cynical college drop-out. They live in completely different worlds, and under normal circumstances, their passionate encounters might have been shelved as "mistakes". But circumstances are far from normal, and Brad has plans that could change both their lives - if only he can convince Alexis to come along for the ride. Extract: "What do you think?" he asked at the end, his dark blue eyes piercing mine. "It's a bit spooky without people," I said, and though I didn't think it was that funny he laughed, a surprising low, belly laugh. A strand of his hair fell over his forehead, and I wondered again if he was single. His face was square and muscular, his lips thin and delicate. He took the folder and bag from my hands, and placed them on an empty shelf. "Well, we're here, aren't we?" he asked, tilting his head. I gulped and wondered what to say. My work was over, but he seemed to be expecting something more. Come to think of it, why was he here to begin with, why hadn't he sent some lowly office peon, the way Mr. Neilson had sent me? His hands were on my face now, tilting my head back so that I met his eyes. "There's something about you," he growled, "I've been thinking about you since I left the law firm." I felt one hand leave my face and slowly travel down my neck, stopping only when it found my breast. He pressed down as his hand moved in slow circles, and I began to wonder if this was all real. As I closed my eyes, I felt his lips on mine, his mouth gentle but insistent. God, he tasted so good, and his hand felt so nice as it pressed down on me. I wanted more of him… Wait, what am I doing? The thought hit me suddenly, and I wondered why I trusted this man. I should just scream and run out of here. His fingers started to toy with my nipple, quickly making it stand up and strain against my lace bra. His lips left mine and began to chew my ear, nibbling at the soft flesh and licking the sensitive skin just below my earlobes. I felt his hand slide across to my other breast… I hadn't realized we'd been moving, but now I felt myself pushed down onto one of the low tables. My brain tried to flicker to attention one final time: this is your last chance, it said.
I tried to lift myself up and push him off me, but his hands felt heavy on my shoulders. He began to kiss my neck, my skin burning wherever his lips touched me. He undid my buttons as he moved downwards, trailing his lips along as he parted the shirt. When he got to my navel, the shirt was gaping open, revealing my lace bra, my nipples visible through the thin fabric. He raised his head and stared into my eyes, "You can leave if you really want to." I felt sparks fly along my spine as our eyes met. My answer was obvious as both of us felt the electricity, and he ran his hand down my skirt. The hand retraced its movements, this time pulling my skirt up till it was hitched around my waist. His fingers trailed along my inner thigh, setting my skin on fire, till they found my moist panties. His hand pressed down, and I moaned out loud, aching for more.
Extract From "Keira's Punishment: The Billionaire's Submissive" Description: Keira Jones is in trouble. She's accidentally approved a press release painting her boss, Connor Hastings, as an elitist snob and she knows she'll get fired. Unless she agrees to beg for forgiveness and accept her punishment - a choice that seems simple enough. At Connor's hands, Keira discovers humiliation and pleasure. Soon, she finds herself tempted by Connor's dark ways and the glamour and excitement he offers… Extract: His face was inches from mine and he said softly, "That day, all I really wanted to do was take you over my lap and give you a good, hard spanking." He leaned back and suddenly the words came rushing into my head. Images popped up unbidden - myself, lying across his lap, my ass bare, his hand lifted, coming down… My breath quickened, but I pushed those thoughts away and looked up to meet his eyes. I didn't know what to say. Though I was wearing a demure business skirt and white button-up blouse, I suddenly felt naked, as though Connor knew exactly what I looked like undressed. Connor's eyes were speculative, and he stood up suddenly and moved to the window. He looked out and asked, "How badly do you want to keep this job?" I gulped. "Very badly, sir." "Mike says I should fire you. Legally, that's my best choice" I started to speak but he held up his hand to silence me. "I like you," he said softly, and I breathed in deeply with pleasure and hope. "I don't want to fire you." He turned to look at me again and the light reflected off his dark mahogany hair, his formal white shirt hinting at hard muscles underneath. "I like you very much." His voice sounded speculative, and again, I felt as though my clothes were transparent. There was something so powerful in his gaze, I felt as though he could see everything. "If you're ready to do anything to keep your job, I'll ignore my lawyer's advice and not fire you." I felt thankfulness flood through my veins, and my eyes widened with relief. "I'll do anything," I said confidently. "Well then," he smiled, "Come here and beg for forgiveness."
I looked at him, surprised. He pointed to a spot on the floor, just before his feet. "Get on your knees," he commanded. I noticed now the bulge in the front of his pants, and he ran one hand over it, emphasizing it, making it obvious what I was about to do. I had a few seconds to make my decision. It was an easy choice to make - I went over and kneeled before him. "Unbutton your blouse." His voice was harsh and commanding, and I felt the humiliation bubble up inside me. With trembling fingers, I undid the buttons slowly, staring at the floor, not daring to meet his eyes. When they were all unbuttoned, I let the shirt hang loose, hoping I could keep it on. Connor reached down and pushed the panels apart, exposing my bra-clad breasts. I felt embarrassed, and hoped this was it, that I wouldn't have to take anything off. But Connor gazed at me for a few seconds, and then reached down again. He pushed the cups of my bra down, and my breasts spilled out over them. The fabric pushed them up from below, making them stand up, my nipples hard and pointing out. He cupped my breasts from the side, and said, "You're already aroused. Good. I like that."
