A Billionaire for Christmas Read online

  Yeah. That would not go over well. Especially with his father.

  Besides, if he was falling in love with Aileen, that was bad. Very, very bad. He’d warned himself not to go there, not to get involved with her any more than was necessary to keep her safe, but damn if that hadn’t gotten shot straight to hell after they’d made love.

  He got Aileen settled at his father’s table, then went to get them drinks at the bar. So far, his newly-divorced father was nowhere in sight. He got two flutes of champagne then headed back, only to find his father now by Aileen’s side, flirting shamelessly with a woman more than half his age.

  Heath gritted his teeth, unaccountable jealousy welling up inside him. The ink wasn’t even dry on the man’s divorce papers and he was already diving back into the dating pool. With more force than was necessary, Heath plunked the glasses down on the table then scooted his chair closer to Aileen before taking a seat behind her. His father raised a brow at his son’s blatantly territorial move, but thankfully didn’t comment.

  “Ah, son. I wondered when you’d make it here. I was just chatting with your lovely companion this evening.” Heathcliff Goldwin, II took Aileen’s hand and kissed the back of it, a spark of amusement in his gray eyes, the same color as his son’s. “I assume you didn’t come here tonight to buy new knickknacks.”

  “No. I didn’t.” He leaned forward and kissed Aileen’s bare shoulder, causing her to gasp and his traitorous cock to twitch again. “May I speak to you alone for a moment, Dad?”

  The older man narrowed his gaze, his eyes flickering from Aileen to his son then back again, realization dawning in his expression as he smiled slowly. “Of course, son. Won’t you excuse us a moment?”

  Aileen looked back at Heath. “Where are you going?”

  “Just up on stage a moment, darling. I’ll be right back, I promise.”

  She gave him a suspicious look, but nodded.

  Heath followed his father up on stage and behind a tall armoire to get some privacy.

  “Congratulations, Son. I never thought I’d see the day, but I’m happy for you.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Heath scowled.

  “Love, dear boy. Happens to the best of us.”

  Exhaling slowly to stifle his temper, Heath said, “Aileen and I are working together. It’s not like that between us.” Liar. “We have an agreement.”

  “Uh huh.” His father chuckled. “Believe me, I’ve had those kinds of agreements too. Seems things never work out quite how we picture them though, eh son? What did you want to talk to me about?”

  Glad for the change in topic, Heath focused on the reason he’d come tonight. “I need more information about Senator Lawrence and his dealings with EnKor. I also need you to point out any investors in the energy company who are in attendance tonight.”

  “I see.” His father crossed his arms. “Well, with the holiday tomorrow, it’ll take me a few days on the intel about the Senator. As far as investors go, I see two couples who gave EnKor a great deal of money. The Taylors and the Musgroves. Want me to arrange a meeting with them for you?”

  “No.” Heath glanced back to the table where Aileen was sitting all alone, looking more than a bit uncomfortable. His heart tugged. The last thing he wanted tonight was for her to not feel special. This was Christmas Eve, after all. A quick look at the dance floor showed both elderly couples currently cutting a rug to a slow waltz tune. “I think I have a better idea.”

  With that, Heath headed back to the table and bowed before Aileen, hand extended. “May I have this dance?”

  She looked up at him, so beautiful and eager. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  They joined the other couples on the floor and Heath did his best to remember why he was here—to talk to the other couples—and not lose himself in the feel of Aileen in his arms, her soft curves pressing so deliciously against him. The light, sweet smell of her floral perfume swirled around him and a bit of the tension in his shoulders relaxed. She rested her head against his shoulder, her warm breath ghosting over his neck above the collar of his starched white shirt and sending a shiver of pleasure through his nerve endings.

  Concentrate, dude. Concentrate.

  Skillfully, he maneuvered them closer to the first couple, the Taylors—a man and a woman in their mid-seventies, with pure white hair and kindly smiles. He’d met them at several different functions over the years and they always reminded him of the kind of grandparents he’d wished he’d had.

  “Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor,” Heath said, grinning. “So wonderful to see you both here tonight.”

  “Thank you,” the Taylors said in unison. “Merry Christmas.”

  “The same to you both,” he said. “I wondered if I might speak with you both a moment after this song is over.”

  “Of course, dear,” Ms. Taylor said. “My feet are killing me.”

  An hour later he’d managed to corral both couples to the Goldwin family table and initiate his plan.

  “Mind telling me what the hell that was all about?” Aileen asked once they were alone again, her tone accusatory. “What the hell are you up to, Heath?”

  “Nothing.” He sipped his fourth glass of champagne, feeling a nice buzz coming on. “I did the right thing, that’s all.”

  “The right thing?” Her cheeks were flushed and her amber eyes were sparkling and if there weren’t so many people around, Heath would’ve hauled her into his lap and stripped away that glorious dress and done something else—only this time it would’ve been naughty. Very, very naughty. “You just bought out the EnKor shares of both those couples.”

  “Yep.”

  “And you plan to absorb their bad investments when the company turns out to be a fake?”

  “Yep.”

  She sat back and crossed her arms, forcing the creamy rise of her breasts nearer to the edge of that gown. If he leaned forward and traced his finger above the edge of the material, would her nipples harden for him? Beg him to take them in his mouth and tease them? “That was never part of our deal, you taking on all this debt. Even billionaires can go broke if they waste their money.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” he said, downing the last of his liquor. “I know what I’m doing.”

  “Really?” Aileen gave him a flat look. “Could’ve fooled me.”

  Heath grinned, letting his gaze roam over every inch of her in a slow perusal. By the time he met her eyes again, Aileen’s lips were parted and her breath was hitched and the same heat burning inside him was glittering in her gaze. “Want to get out of here and discuss this in private?” he asked.

  “More than anything in this world,” she panted.

  8

  They stumbled through the door of the brownstone, Aileen barely waiting until the front door was closed behind them and Heath had reset the security system before pressing him up against the wall and stripping him from the waist up. God, she’d thought of nothing else all night but licking him like a lollipop.

  From the moment she’d come out of her room and seen him standing there looking far more handsome than a man had a right to in his pristine tuxedo, all dapper and devastatingly hot, all she’d wanted was to muss him up, have him hard and heavy and begging to be inside her again. Nipping at his neck, she pressed closer to Heath to allow him to slide the zipper at the back of her dress down more easily.

  “God, I’ve been waiting all night to touch you like this,” she said, sliding her hand along the hard length of his erection pressed tight to the front of his trousers. “You have no idea.”

  Once her gown hit the floor, Heath spun Aileen so that her back was against the wall, then hoisted her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist, putting them chest to chest. The smattering of dark hair on his pecs tickled her stiff nipples and made her groan low in her throat.

  “Oh, I’ve got some idea all right,” he growled, nuzzling that spot just below her ear that drove her nuts with need. He ground his cock against the heat between her thi
ghs, only the thin lace of her emerald green thong separating him from her slick folds, and she arched into him, wanting so much more. He laughed, low and infinitely sexy. “You like that, eh?”

  He thrust harder against her, the top of his fly rubbing her stiff clit and making her catch her breath. “Oh God, yes!” she cried. “I need you to fuck me. Please, Heath. Fuck me hard.”

  A feral snarl tore from his throat and he tightened his hold on her, carrying her swiftly from the front of the brownstone, down the hall, and into his master suite. There he tossed her down on the mattress then loomed over her, all bared teeth and pure masculine power. His heated gaze traveled the length of her body, taking in her matching emerald green corset and the garter belts holding up her silk stockings. Before she could blink, he’d torn off her thong and tossed it aside before kneeling between her thighs. “I’m going to fuck you so hard and so good, you’ll never, ever forget this night.”

  “Yeah?” She used those self-defense moves on him again, catching Heath off-guard and flipping him over so that he landed flat on his back on the mattress. “Not until I get what I want.”

  He reached for her, but she batted his hands away, her fingers making quick work of his belt before slowly lowering the zipper on his pants. Heath’s expression shifted from disbelief to downright dirty. “And what is it that you want, darling?”

  “I want you begging me to make you cum.” With that, she freed him from the confines of his boxer briefs and stared down at his hard cock, a tiny drop of moisture pearl at the tip. Aileen licked her lips, eager to finally taste him. Slowly, keeping her gaze locked with his, she bent and swiped her tongue across the sensitive head of his shaft. His breath caught and his lips parted and she didn’t think she’d ever seen a sexier vision in her life. She gave him a slow, seductive smile. “Delicious.”

  She scooted father down between his legs and took him into her mouth then, relishing his deep sigh of satisfaction, the way his lithe, muscled body arched off the bed slightly. His cock nudged the roof of her mouth and she twirled her tongue around the crown then tickled the underside. He groaned and threaded his fingers through her hair, guiding her, showing her what he liked best. Aileen followed his lead, eyes closed, her heart racing with endless emotion for this man. He was everything she’d ever wanted and nothing she’d ever expected to find. Kind, compassionate, generous to a fault—if tonight’s EnKor buyback was any indication. Sexy as hell and considerate of all, regardless of their station in life.

  She released his cock only to trace her tongue down to the base of him then back up, licking him just as she dreamed of doing earlier and Heath writhed beneath her, holding her close, murmuring her name and endearments in a mindless litany.

  “Oh, God. Fuck yes.,” he moaned. “I need…”

  “What?” she whispered, sending a stream of air over the wet tip of his cock. “Tell me what you need, baby.”

  “I want to be inside you when I cum, darling,” he panted. “I’ve been semi-hard all night just looking at you in that dress. If you keep doing what you’re doing it’ll all be over before it starts. And I want this to last.” Heath threw an arm over his eyes and laid there for a moment before moving off the bed and stripping off his pants and boxers, leaving him nude. His cock jutted proudly from his body, red and wanton and so ready for her. He reached over to grab a condom from the nightstand drawer and Aileen couldn’t resist leaning up on her elbows and swiping her tongue over his velvet head again, tasting the salty goodness of him for herself once more.

  Heath groaned and slipped his fingers through her hair, holding her to him and encouraging her to lick him again before gently moving her away to put on the condom. “I hope you’re ready for me, darling, because I’m going to fuck you into next year.”

  “Yeah?” She grinned and stared back at him, her legs spread in obvious invitation. “I can’t wait. C’mon, big boy. Quit talking and give it to me already.”

  Another growl and Heath was on her, his hands pinning her wrists to the bed and his body looming over her as she opened her thighs even more to accommodate him. He yanked the top of her corset down to expose her breasts. “God, you make me crazy. I’m not usually like this with women, but you bring out the alpha in me.”

  “And you bring out my inner slut.” She winked and rocked against the hard tip of his cock, causing it to make contact with her still swollen clit. “Now put that cock in me before I lose my mind.”

  Heath bent and kissed her deeply as he thrust inside her hilt-deep, then stilled, allowing her time to adjust to him. He wasn’t the only one desperate and discombobulated. Aileen felt the same. She’d had other lovers and liked to be mouthy in bed, in all ways. But Heath brought out her hidden vixen like no other man ever had before. The chemistry between them was electric, volatile, a powder keg ready to explode whenever they touched.

  As he began moving inside her, slowly at first then building to a stronger, driving rhythm, she held his head to her chest as he took first one, then the other, of her sensitive nipples between his lips. She might not have him forever, but she planned to enjoy him to the fullest while he was with her now.

  Soon, they were both panting and clinging and moving closer and closer toward the precipice of an earth-shattering climax. Aileen strained against him, rubbing herself on his pubic bone to increase the friction of their bodies. “Yes. I’m close, so close…”

  “Me too,” Heath panted, his cheeks flushed and his hair damp with sweat as he balanced above her on his arms, his biceps quivering from the force of his thrusts. “Cum for me, darling. Let me see you once more.”

  “God, yes!” She writhed and pressed and worked her body on his until at last her muscles contracted and those delightful flutters swept through her again, reality bursting into a million iridescent shards of brilliant passion. Heath soon tensed as well, his movements becoming more chaotic as he lost himself in his own orgasm, burying himself deep within her as he came hard.

  A long moment later, he collapsed atop her amidst their scattered clothes and the sound of heavy breathing. The air smelled of sex and she sighed dreamily.

  Merry Christmas to me.

  She closed her eyes and drifted off, only to be awakened by the sound of a knock on the front door moments later. Aileen peeked one eye open and squinted at Heath, who was snoozing beside her. “Expecting someone?”

  He grinned, looking entirely too adorable for his own good. “Actually, yeah. I was.”

  Aileen frowned. “Who?”

  “It’s a surprise.” After dropping a quick kiss on her lips, he got up and pulled on his tuxedo pants, sans undies, then padded barefoot down the hall to punch in the security code and answer the door. Aileen rolled over and covered her head with her pillow, for once her modesty winning over her curiosity. The sound of male voices echoed through the brownstone, followed by the noise of something being moved inside. By the time Heath joined her again in the bedroom, she’d run through a hundred guesses in her head—furniture, an antique he’d bought at the auction earlier, more clothes for her.

  The mattress jiggled as he climbed in beside her then leaned over to trail kisses down her bare back. “Ready to see your surprise?”

  Aileen moaned. “What is it?”

  “Well, if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?” He smacked her lightly on the rump then laughed. “Up you get, darling.”

  “Fine.” She rolled over and wrapped the sheet around her. Her corset was all crooked now from him yanking it down and her thong was missing and a chilly draft tickled her toes as she dragged the sheet behind her, following him out into the living room to see…

  Her heart tugged. “A tree? You got a Christmas tree.”

  “I did.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind as they stared at the towering spruce, still decorated from the party on Park Avenue, its white twinkle lights and silver trim sparkling like diamonds in the night. “I figured we needed some holiday cheer around here.”

  “I don’t us
ually celebrate Christmas. I’m Jewish.”

  “Me neither.” Heath nuzzled her ear. “Not since my mom died. But this year seemed different.”

  Aileen snuggled back into his warm, solid chest and blinked back the unexpected sting of tears, her heart aching for all the possibilities with this man, if things had been different between them. “Yes, this year does seem different, doesn’t it?”

  * * *

  Heath awoke the next morning at his usual pre-dawn time and got ready quietly so as not to wake a still sleeping Aileen. They’d made love a second time in the wee hours, tenderly this time, so different from their rough and tumble coupling earlier. He’d put everything into that second round—all the love and tenderness and gentleness he felt toward her, but couldn’t say.

  Still, as he walked into the living room and clicked on the tree before heading to the kitchen to make them a fine Christmas breakfast, he couldn’t help remembering other holidays, when he’d been a kid. His parents so happy together, loving each other and him.

  Probably didn’t help that when he’d been getting dressed in the dark he’d come across the original receipt for the ring he’d bought months ago to give to Mel on their engagement. An engagement that had never developed further because it had been wrong from the start. Mel and Daveed made a great couple. So did Murphy and Shayma.

  So do me and Aileen…

  He shook off the forbidden thoughts, and concentrated on whisking the eggs into a froth for their omelets. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if Aileen even liked omelets, but that shouldn’t be a problem because he also had cinnamon brioche French toast sizzling on the griddle and Applewood smoked bacon frying up in a pan. Plus, his housekeeper had stocked up the pantry with croissants and the fridge with fresh fruit. He figured out of that lot, there should be something that tickled his darling’s fancy.

  By the time the food was done and the table was set, Aileen finally stumbled out, freshly showered and seeking caffeine. Heath fixed her a mug, then one for himself, then took a seat at the table across from her. They chatted about the weather, about the holiday, about their different traditions—her menorahs and dreidels and Hanukah. But the entire time, Heath couldn’t seem to get the idea of a new engagement ring out of his brain. All it would take was a call to the jewelers where he’d purchased the first one for Mel—the one she’d hocked for airfare home. This time though, thing felt different, were different. Still, it was an insane, ludicrous, incredibly compelling idea…