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Chapter Seventeen

Author: Claire Karla
last update Last Updated: 2022-06-01 21:13:17

Her steps carried her around the next corner into a room that looked more like a gallery, filled with shelves of old, bound books carefully displayed. She held her breath as her fingers itched to caress the binding of old leather and relish the sound of crackling as she turned the pages steeped in history.

“Ah, so to get you to notice me tonight, I should turn into a book, no?”

She spun around. A man stood in the doorway, his eyes filled with a mischievous humor she knew to be a part of his core. His hair was long and caught back in a low ponytail, giving him the look of a pirate who had charmed women for centuries. His lips were full and his nose dominated his strong features in typical Italian style. Dressed in black pants, a black silk shirt, and expensive leather shoes, he exhibited a graceful, seductive air just by standing. Maya knew immediately the man was charming, warm-hearted, and deadly to women. The thought made a smile curve her lips.

She had a soft spot for womanizing I
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  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Eighteen

    Michael watched the gesture with barely hidden amusement. “It seems Richard thinks you are the perfect man for the job. Perhaps we can set up a meeting to go over your ideas.”“Thank you. I’ll call your secretary and arrange an appointment.” She caught the clear-cut simplicity in his tone, and knew Michael noticed.Alex didn’t play certain business games, namely being too arrogant to pick up the phone himself to call for an appointment.“Very good.” Michael took her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. “It was lovely to meet you, Maya.” His Italian accent caressed her name.“I’m having a dinner party for a few close friends two weeks from tonight. Would you join me?”She noted he directed his invitation to her so she turned to her husband.“Darling? Are we free?”This time, his movement wasn’t subtle. He took a step behind her and wrapped both hands around her waist, drawing her back against him. Her butt pressed against his groin. Iron thighs trapped hers. He rested both hands directl

    Last Updated : 2022-06-01
  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Nineteen

    Alex’s hands hung at his sides, empty. For one moment, he’d been filled with her: her curves, her scent, her heat. Now he stood in the middle of the room, alone, just like he had on their wedding night. A married man with a hard-on and no relief in sight. Amazed at his ridiculous predicament, he tried to go over the events of the evening and see where he’d gone wrong.The moment he caught her with Michael, a slow, steaming anger had risen up within him. The heat started at his feet, traveled to his stomach, his chest, and finally settled like a hot band around his head. If he was a horse, he would have snorted out smoke and stamped his hooves. If he was a wolf, he would have howled at the moon.Her hand had rested on the Michael’s arm. He must’ve been quite amusing, because she threw her head back and laughed, her cheeks flushed and rosy.Her full lips had gleamed under the chandelier light. They’d acted like they were long-time friends instead of people who had just met.But the wors

    Last Updated : 2022-06-01
  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Twenty

    “Oh, yeah, Alex would just love this kind of night out. He’d probably prefer a root canal and a prostate exam.”“How are you two getting along? Besides the physical attraction.”“Fine.”Olivua rolled her eyes. “Lying again. You’re not going to tell me, are you?”Maya realized she’d always confessed everything to Olivia except for one event. The first time Alex kissed her. She’d known she loved him back then. Friendship turned to rivalry and then to a girlish crush. That first kiss twisted emotions so pure within her she believed it was love. Her heart beat for him, full of joy at the possibility of them being together, so she uttered the words, her voice echoing through the trees.“I love you.”Then waited for him to kiss her again. Instead, he stepped back from her and laughed. Called her a silly baby and walked away.She learned her first lesson in heartbreak in that moment. Fourteen yearsold. In the woods with Alex Smith.She wasn’t about to repeat the lesson.She pushed the memory

    Last Updated : 2022-06-01
  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Twenty One

    Alex reached down and snagged Maya's fingers, pulling her up from the chair. “Show me the rest of the store while this guy finishes up.”Olivia chuckled and settled herself into the empty chair. “He’s just afraid of hin being next.”“You’re absolutely right.”Alex led her away from the crowd. With an instinctive motion, he stopped in a shadowed corner by a sign entitled RELATIONSHIPS. Heguided her so her back pressed against the bookshelf, then dropped her hand. Alex shifted his feet and cursed under his breath at his sudden uneasiness. He hadn’t planned what to say, just knew he had to break the tension between them before he got crazy and dragged her into his bed.Somehow, he needed to bring the relationship back to friendship. Back to older brother/younger sister camaraderie. Even if it killed him.“I want to talk to you.”A slight smile twitched those bee-stung lips. “Okay.”“About us.”“Okay.”“I don’t think we should go to bed with each other.”She threw back her head and laugh

    Last Updated : 2022-06-01
  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Twenty Two

    Of the world of glittering colors and of perfumed scents that attack my nostrils;To the world of sharp tongues, snaking out to shred soft smiles. I listen as ice tinkles against amber liquid. Heat burns within, a reminder of a suicide from the past; a reminder of asilent murder.Seconds…minutes…centuries…The sudden knowledge twists my belly; I am home. I open my eyes to the blinding flash of a door opening.And wonder if I will remember.”Maya folded the piece of paper and nodded at her audience. Silence settled over everyone. Some people wrote feverishly in their notebooks.Olivia gave a whoop. She laughed and stepped off the stage, and then she began to gather empty cups and chat as the night came to a close.Alex stood alone and watched her.A strange emotion bubbled up inside of him. Since he’d never experienced it before, he couldn’t seek out a name. There was little left in life that touched him, and he admitted he liked it that way.Tonight, something changed.Maya had share

    Last Updated : 2022-06-01
  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Twenty Three

    Alex shut the door behind him and fell into the leather chair. He stared at his drawing board and curled his hands into tight fists to stop the itch. He wanted to create. He envisioned materials such as limestone and brick, withflowing images of glass and sleek curves. The pictures danced behind his closed lids at night, and here he was, owner of Dreamscape Enterprises, and stuck most of the day in board meetings.He cursed under his breath. Okay, so the board members aggravated him, with the pencil-pushing tactics and money-grubbing ideas. Most of them opposed the waterfront contract, believing the company would go bankrupt if he took the job and couldn’t deliver. The board was right. He had a simple solution.Don’t fail.Michael’s party was Saturday night and he still hadn’t secured a business meeting. Hyoshi Komo hadn’t called either. Stuck at square one, the only thing to do was wait for the man to make his move, and count down the hours to the party. Maybe Michael was waiting to

    Last Updated : 2022-06-02
  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Twenty Four

    Maya stared worriedly at the beautiful loveseat and chair in swirling patterns of silver and gray. Damn, why did Alex have to be rich? No one’sspare room looked this good, with slate carpeting, pewter tables with ornate scrolling, and throws that cost more than her whole comforter set at home.She ran her fingers over the soft, precise stitches of an afghan. She needed some old blankets, and she bet her husband didn’t have one. She decided to go on a hunt upstairs but she heard the key in the lock.Panicked, she threw the afghan over the chair and shut the door behind her. Then she hurled herself down the hallway and skidded to a stop in front of him. “Hi.”He looked suspicious already. Blond locks slipped over his forehead and his eyes narrowed, as if he didn’t trust her to be nice. Guilt squirmed within, but she ignored the emotion.“Hi.” He looked around the house and she held her breath. “What’s going on?”“Nothing. I was just about to cook dinner. Unless you’re tired and want to

    Last Updated : 2022-06-02
  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Twenty Five

    His laughter echoed through the kitchen. The chill settled around her as he walked away. Maya held her breath as he started up the stairs, but the dogs were still quiet.She raced into the living room, put on the baseball game, pumped up the volume, and went into the back room to check on the canines.The afghan was torn to shreds. She pried it out of the black lab’s teeth and stuck it in the bottom desk drawer. The paper was already dirty, so she cleaned up, spread freshnewsprint down, and laid some down over the couch and chair for extra insurance. She refilled the water bowls and figured they’d all have to go out again in another hour before bedtime.She shut the door, sped into the kitchen, and finished dinner while shouting loud comments to her players.Alex came down for his dinner and quickly went back upstairs.Exhausted from her trickery, she vowed from now on to be honest with the shelter. She managed to sneak the dogs out in small groups for the rest of the evening.When t

    Last Updated : 2022-06-02

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  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty Nine

    I wrapped a towel around Gracie and tucked her against my chest. She grizzled and grasped against my skin, her legs bending and stretching. She was anxious to get going. At six months old, from the second she openedher eyes, until they finally, begrudgingly, shut for the night, she was on the go. There was a lot of bum wiggling these days I had many videos on my phone from Maya, and I had witnessed it many times, but she hadn’t yet started crawling, although I expected it any day.I had taken her in the shower with me. She loved showers and I didn’t want to leave her alone too long. She laughed the whole time, and though I couldn’t say I was as clean as I normally would be, I would pass for the day.I carefully patted her hair dry after I fastened her diaper. The sounds of Maya being ill made me hurry back to our room. Last night, she hadsuddenly wanted Japanese food. She disliked sushi but loved tempura.When she called and asked me to bring home dinner, I was only too happy to pic

  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty Eight

    I settled into the chair on the deck with a relieved groan. Gracie was asleep, I was clean, and Maya was resting. I had tried repeatedly to get Gracie to say “Dada” again so Maya could hear it, but she chose to remain silent.“Honestly, Maya. She said it.”She patted my cheek. “I believe you.”I knew without a doubt, she was lying. But Gracie had said it while she was reaching for me. Or it may have been duh, but I was certain it was Dada.The house was quiet, the sun beginning to set, and I was enjoying a hard-earned beer and sandwich. The water in the pool shimmered in the evening light, and I decided I’d have a dip once I finished eating.I had spoken to Michael, and he told me the contract had been signed. I laughed at his description of me striding back into the boardroom with Gracie strapped to my chest, and a bottle in my hand, determined to finishmy presentation. “Not a sight I ever thought I’d see when it came to you, Alex. I almost fell off my chair.”I had to agree with hi

  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty Seven

    Alex. Fuck, it had been so long since we were like this. Together, naked, and ready for each other. I hadn’t wanted to push her and tried to be patient, even though patience wasn’t my strongest trait. The fact she came to me was a huge turn on, and seeing her need, I planned to meet and exceed her desire. She was softer, curvier than before she got pregnant, and I loved how she felt under my hands.Her low hiss when I buried my face between her legs made me smile against her slick skin. She was so ready for me. I was so fucking ready.Everything about her was as new as it was familiar: her sounds, her taste, the way she moved against my mouth. I teased and licked, groaning at her reactions, making a mental note to keep the beard. Olivia teased me mercilessly at work, but it was worth this effect on my wife. She came hard and fast, her cries low and needy. I sat up with a grin, and settled betweenher legs. The blunt head of my cock nudged at her entrance, the heat beckoning and welco

  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty six

    Maya. I woke up, hearing soft whispers. I rolled over, guessing correctly that Alex had once again gotten out of bed and was in the nursery. His side of the bed was vacant, and the monitor lit up as he spoke to our daughter while feeding her. I loved hearing him chat to her. Richard never minced words not even with me. He was a straight shooter and spoke his mind. He showed me a gentler side when we fell in love, but his personality never changed much. He was still demanding and blunt. He had learned, however, to rein in the harsher side of his character, and knew how to deal with people now.At least most of the time.But with Gracie he was different.With her, he was soft. That was the only way to describe it. He changed completely with her. She brought forth the tender, loving man in him. He hurried home at night, anxious to be with us. He reached for her as soon as he came in the door, ready to forget businessman Alex, and assume the role of Daddy. He laughed and made funny faces

  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty Five

    Hearing that word made me blink. Then i blinked again. Daddy. A title I never thought would belong to me. A swell of sentiment made my throat thick. I reached out and grasped Maya’s hand, needing her touch.“I’ll be the best daddy I can be.”“I know you will be. You’re already the best husband.”Leaning down, I captured her mouth with mine, feeling a thousand emotions. Ones only Maya, and now Gracie, could make me feel. Feelings Ididn’t know existed happiness and elation so poignant it made my chest ache. Contentment and peace that permeated my life simply from their presence. I had found a group of people I considered my family now, but Maya and Gracie belonged to me. They were my world, and I knew I was theirs. “Thank you, my Maya. For my daughter. For you.”She cupped my cheek. “Are you all right, Alex?”I swallowed, turning my head, kissing her palm. I knew if I told her, she would understand. She always understood me. “It’s just all . . .”“Overwhelming? Scary?”“Yes.”“We’ll ha

  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty Four

    Things progressed to the point it was time to move to the delivery room. I had walked with her until she couldn’t walk anymore, fed her ice chips, rubbed her back and shoulders, and reassured her even as worry ate its way into my stomach. I blinked away tears when I saw the amount of pain she was experiencing. I let her hold my hand, not caring that she might break it with her death grip, as the contractions became stronger and closer together.She did change her mind about the epidural, and although I was grateful it took away the pain, I lost it when I saw the size of the needle they used. I had wanted to be involved, and they showed me how to hold Maya’s shoulders to help with the procedure. I stepped forward to do so, caught sight of the needle, and froze. They had to push me out of the way, and thesame nurse who had been at the front desk, stood in my place, all the while chuckling about “men and pain.” I had a feeling I would never live it down.I would also never live down lea

  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty Three

    Her gaze went to Maya. “You can walk if you want to in fact, I recommend it. There’re ice chips and water here. Are you certain no epidural?”Maya shook her head. She was adamant on that subject, no matter how I pleaded with her to change her mind.Dr. Suzanne smiled at Maya and patted her hand. “You can change your mind, if you want, but we can’t leave it too long. There is a point we can’t go back.”“I know. I want to do this without drugs.”“Okay, you two. Settle in. I’ll be back shortly.”She left, and I bent over and kissed my wife, meeting her worried gaze steadily. “I’m here, sweetheart. You’re going to be fine. I won’t leave you for a minute. And later, we’re going to meet our child.”“It’s so overwhelming,” she admitted in a shaky voice. “I’m scared.”I was relieved she said the words aloud. I pressed another kiss on her head.“What do you need?”“You to hold me.”“You never have to ask.”She shifted to the side, and I sat beside her, wrapping my arms around her body, spreadi

  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty Two

    Turning into the large entrance of the hospital, I slammed on the brakes so hard my car shuddered. My tires squealed and left black marks on the pavement. Flinging open the door, I lunged out of the seat, not even bothering to shut the door behind me. I was lucky I remembered to take the keys.A security guard stopped me before I made it to the sliding doors of the hospital, holding up his hand.“Sir, you can’t leave your car there. The parking lot is across the street.. ”I interrupted him, shaking my head. I tossed my keys in his direction.“Look, kid, I trust you. Park my car and bring me the keys.”“I can’t do that!”Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed a wad of cash. I had no idea how much it was, but to this kid standing in front of me, blocking my way,masking his youth by pretending to be forceful, I was certain it was a fortune. I shoved the money into his hand, smirking as his eyes widened at the sight of the cash.“Sure you can. Think of it as a reward for a job well done. Pa

  • BILLIONAIRE'S BRIDE   Chapter Sixty One

    “You’re blushing.”“I’m sorry.” I offered a sheepish smile. “Not sure how to say I read an article about you without sounding awkward.”He laughed. “I’m flattNick watched her safely enter her loft and waited for the light to click on.The low purr of the BMW was the only sound to break the silence.His annoyance at her blunt admission bothered him. Why did he care ifshe wanted the money? It was a perfect motivation to get them both throughthe next year with no damages. He needed to keep his distance. Her parentscaused a dangerous longing to bubble up from deep inside. He quicklysquashed the emotion, but the idea that he still retained some sick ray ofhope for a normal family pissed him off.Maybe it was the way she looked tonight. She’d pinned her hair up, andstubborn black curls stabbed through the bobby pins to lay across her cheekand down her neck. Her skin looked warm to the touch, slightly flushedwith pleasure from being around her family. She smiled so easily, her lipsf

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