The Game: A Billionaire Romance Read online

  “What? Did you think you were well hidden and out of view in your classroom?” Casper asked, and all three men laughed.

  “I wasn’t hiding. I was studying. You know, fulfilling the whole purpose of college,” I replied, a smirk forming. In college, I would have been too nervous to speak to guys like these. Now look where I was!

  “And what did you think we were doing?” Vince asked, a look of mockery taking over his dark features.

  “Playing beer pong and trying to fuck anything in skirts,” I said, arching an eyebrow and crossing my arms over my breasts.

  The three of them laughed in unison. Vince threw back his head, and Casper clutched his stomach. For some reason, these boys thought I was funny.

  “This one has a potty mouth,” Casper said to Nash.

  When Nash turned to look at me, it was my turn to shrug.

  “So, what are you doing here?” Vince asked me, in all seriousness, taking a long sip of his whiskey.

  “Paying for my sins,” I smirked and they laughed again. It was like they couldn’t get enough.

  “You should have attended those beer pong parties you were talking about. Nash, you should have brought her.” Casper thumped Nash’s back.

  “What makes you think that he could have brought me? We barely knew each other in college,” I was quick to correct him. I wasn’t sure why I had said that, but a sudden urge had made me blurt it out.

  “That’s right. We didn’t. In fact, we still don’t. I bumped into Bonnie yesterday and invited her,” Nash explained, keeping calm. He didn’t break a sweat as he spoke.

  “I see,” Vince said in an even voice. He seemed to have detected the undercurrents between us.

  “Well, we need to catch up with some people over there. See you kids around,” Vince said, thumping Casper’s back as a subtle indication to take their leave.

  “On for next Saturday?” Casper asked over his shoulder, as the two of them began to walk away.

  “Bring the beers this time, Casper,” Nash said, shaking his head and breaking into a laugh.

  When he turned to me, he caught me staring at him.

  “What?” he asked, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Bumped into me yesterday?” I said, widening my eyes.

  “Did you want me to tell them about our merger?” he asked, tilting his head like I had been a naughty child.

  “What exactly have you told them about me?” I asked.

  Nash grinned and caught my hand suddenly, pulling me away in a different direction.

  Chapter 13

  Nash

  I led Bonnie through the groups of guests at the gala. I wanted us to be alone again, and now her small hand in mine made me feel like I would do anything to just have her in my arms.

  “Where are we going now?” she asked behind me.

  I didn’t turn to look at her or reply. I wasn’t sure I wanted her to see my face. I didn’t want her to see how much I wanted her. How turned on I was. She hadn’t done anything to turn me on. But then Bonnie Calhoun always had that effect on me.

  The minute she had stepped out of her house, I’d felt myself go hard. Her skin was soft and pale, almost the color of a peach. Her burgundy dress was beautiful in its simplicity, and her bare shoulders looked delicate and delicious enough to eat. Her shining hair was tightly bound at the back of her head, and her eyes were large and blue. I could very easily get lost in them.

  I led her outside, to the balcony at the back of the ballroom, which overlooked the elaborate country club grounds. When we were outside, I shut the door and locked it.

  She seemed to be out of breath. It could be because she was nervous, or because we had been walking fast. I had never known Bonnie to be nervous; she plunged into everything head on. Nothing scared her.

  When I turned to look at her, she was standing a few feet away from me. The moon was clear and bright in the sky, casting a silvery shadow on everything.

  “This is beautiful,” she said softly, walking over to the edge of the balcony and leaning over. The view of the gardens seemed to amaze her. Even in the dark, we could see where the summer flowers had bloomed in geometrical beds. I could see the fine golden hairs at the back of her neck and I wanted to touch my tongue to them.

  That old familiar feeling of wanting her, but pushing her away was returning. She was too precious to touch.

  “So, what’s going on?” she asked suddenly, looking up at me with a wide smile on her face. She had her hands on the banister, still leaning slightly forward. As tightly as she had tied her hair in a bun, some naughty blond locks had escaped and were now falling in front of her face. I wanted to wrap them around my fingers and yank her face up to look at me, so I could kiss her.

  “I just wanted to catch a breath. There is too much politeness in that room,” I said with a laugh, pushing my hands into the pockets of my pants.

  Bonnie smiled at me. “So, tell me, how do Casper and Vince recognize me from college? I don’t ever recall meeting them.” Her eyes were a clear blue in the silvery light that surrounded us. I wondered how they might darken if she took my cock in her hands. I wanted her to touch me. I wanted her to take me in her mouth.

  “I don’t know what you thought of yourself back then, but you were pretty vocal. And everyone knew you. I haven’t said anything to them in private, Bonnie,” I told her, watching as she now moved away from the railing and over to my side.

  Every time she took a step, a slit in her dress revealed her long pale leg. It glistened in the moonlight, and all I could think about was what it would taste like if I ran my tongue over it. Bonnie was silent for a while, contemplating what I had just said.

  “I suppose you have a point. I didn’t think very highly of myself in college,” she said in a gentle whisper. Like she was speaking more to herself than to me. I took in a deep breath and followed her with my eyes. She was walking around in dreamy circles, like she was a princess in her own rose garden. It brought a smile to my face.

  “Nobody does. But I’m surprised you didn’t. You always seemed so sure of yourself,” I told her. Our eyes locked, and this time she didn’t pull her gaze away from me.

  “I thought I was a nerd. And I’m equally surprised that you’re saying this. I wouldn’t have thought you had any insecurities,” she said, entwining her hands together in front of her.

  I laughed and shook my head. “Are you kidding me? I had so many expectations to live up to. Family, friends, myself…” My voice was drowned by the lump that was rising in my throat. I couldn’t believe I was saying all this. To Bonnie, of all people. How had this happened?

  “Is that why you took over your father’s company? I remember you used to tell everyone that you wanted to start your own thing. That you wanted to be an engineer, travel the world,” she said and our eyes met again. Hers softened, the softest I had ever seen them. I hadn’t expected to find that much comfort in Bonnie’s eyes. I never thought she would understand.

  “I did. But I have a responsibility and a duty to my family business. So, that’s what I’m doing,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders. There was no way that anyone was going to see an ounce of weakness in me.

  Chapter 14

  Bonnie

  Nash looked self-assured as he spoke. His eyes were gray and harsh as he focused his gaze on my face. He had his hands thrust into his pockets and stood in front of me with his shoulders squared and his feet spread wide apart.

  Yeah, he looked like he was sure of himself and what he was saying. That he didn’t mind taking over his father’s company.

  “So, did you get to travel much? Do you miss being an engineer?” I asked, hoping that he might reveal himself a little more.

  I couldn’t pull my gaze away from him. He looked devastatingly handsome standing there, looking at me. Everything that I had dreamed about was coming true. Except that Nash Preston didn’t actually have feelings for me. If he did want me, he wanted me for sex.

  “I do. But it’s my duty—” he b
egan to say.

  “To inherit your business,” I completed the sentence for him, not wanting to hear him lie again.

  Nash took a step toward me, and my body responded. “You think you have me figured out, don’t you, Bonnie Calhoun?” he said in a deep husky voice, as he drew closer. He was mocking me. He had a smile on his face. I craned my neck to look up at him. Our bodies were only inches apart. I could reach up and touch his face if I wanted to, but I was holding back. My fingers were trembling, and I hoped he couldn’t see them.

  “No, I never said that. I just wanted to know if you’re happy in your current situation,” I managed to say, remembering at the last minute what he had asked me.

  Nash’s smile widened, and he kept his eyes trained on me. You’re right,” he said softly and raised a finger. He used that to touch the tip of my nose gently. My heart had begun to pound, what was he doing? Was this just old-pal-friendly interaction for him again? My mind was racing with wild ideas, while my body was reacting to his touch.

  “It was a sacrifice. To give up my engineering career. To give up traveling the world,” he continued and now his finger was trailing down. From my nose, to my upper lip, to my lips, down to my chin. I couldn’t keep staring at him anymore. I had to shut my eyes. I gulped as my skin trembled beneath his touch. My lips parted of their own accord.

  “But it was all worth it,” he whispered, bringing his lips close to my ear. I gulped again, completely lost in the sensations. I had no idea what he was talking about anymore. None of it mattered. His finger on my face, that was all that mattered.

  “Like I said, it’s just business.” His voice was like a lullaby in my head. He was putting me into a trance. My body had begun to sway, my nipples were erect and yearning for his touch. So many years. I had waited for this moment for so many years. I didn’t even think this could happen.

  Nash’s finger moved up again, from my chin toward my lips. And this time it stayed there. He was stroking my parted lips with his finger. My face was turned up to him, inviting him, telling him more than I wanted him to know.

  Then his finger slid into my mouth. I tasted the salty course texture of his skin as he slid it to touch my tongue. I moaned softly, imagining instantly what it might be like to have his cock there instead. He pulled his finger out, and my eyes flew open.

  Nash was smiling at me. His gray eyes had darkened.

  “You seem eager,” he said and his gaze dropped to my breasts. Was he imagining my nipples, the ones he had probably seen through my robe? Could he see them through the dress?

  “Dance with me,” he said suddenly, snapping me out of my paralyzing sexual reaction to his presence. Nash grabbed me by my waist and swung me around. He took my hand and held it up, leading me in some ballroom dance I didn’t know how to do.

  Some classical music was floating out from the ballroom inside, along with the chatter of voices, but Nash was dancing to the steps of his own tune. His back was straight, his hand clutching mine gently, while his other remained on my back.

  I was out of breath. I could feel my cheeks burning up. What had just happened?!

  Why was he so hot and cold? Why did he keep pushing me to the edge and then violently hauling me back? I could see that he was teasing me. He knew how madly I wanted him. How turned on I was. And he kept drawing me in to see how much further he could push me.

  But the dancing was having a calming effect on me. Even though I didn’t know what I was doing, I continued to cling on to his arm and follow his confident steps.

  “I haven’t done this in years,” he exclaimed in my ears, laughing a little as he carried on.

  “I haven’t done this ever,” I said and we were both laughing. Somehow it was easy for me to forgive him for what he was doing to me. For the havoc he had wrecked on my body and mind. I was simply happy to continue dancing with him, swaying in his arms to some made-up music. I was in no rush for anything else. As hard as I tried to not think about it, I couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, Nash Preston wanted more than just my body.

  Chapter 15

  Bonnie

  The music stopped suddenly, or perhaps it didn’t. But Nash had stopped moving.

  “Why did you agree to come here?” Nash asked, when I least expected him to. I had been so lost for the past few minutes, in our rhythmic dancing motions, that it could very well have been several hours. My face was on his chest, my eyes were closed. I could feel his beating heart against my cheek.

  When I heard the words, my head jerked up and I looked at him. Nash’s eyes looked a dark gray, nearly black and his face was harsh. He was glaring at me like I had done something wrong.

  “Because you asked me to come,” I said, at a loss for words. Had he not wanted me to come? What had I done wrong? I was afraid that I had displeased him. I was afraid that our moment was going to end and he was going to push me away. That all this had just been a fantasy.

  He dropped my hand, so now only my other hand on the fabric of his jacket was keeping us connected. I didn’t want to lose that touch. I had come so close to having him. It was impossible to bear.

  “I asked you, yes. But why did you agree? I didn’t expect you to say yes,” he said, after some moments of silence. He looked like there was some sort of internal struggle going on inside him. Like he didn’t want to look at me anymore. I was worried that he thought he had made a mistake. That he despised me after all.

  “Did you not want me to say yes? Didn’t you want me to come?” I asked, aware of the strain in my voice. I had never sounded this desperate, this vulnerable before. I knew I was leaving my heart bare. If he wanted to, he could peep right in and see what the truth was. I felt naked and exposed under his glare.

  “Damn you, Bonnie Calhoun,” he growled in a voice I had never heard before. I gasped because I felt his hand on my belly and the force with which he pushed me. My body swayed and my back pressed against the cold brick of the banister. He had pinned me to it.

  “You’re going to pay for coming here. You’re going to regret saying yes,” he mumbled and my mouth hung open.

  Nash loomed over me, leaning my body backward so that my torso was now unsupported. My head was bending over, hanging over the rose bush in the garden below. His face hovered over mine, his eyes locked on my face. Behind his head, the moon created a halo around his hair and in the clear night sky, I could see all the stars.

  My heart was beating hard against my chest, as his hand traveled from my belly, where he was holding me, up my torso, to my neck. Gently, just barely grazing my skin, until he reached my jaw.

  Our breaths locked together when he kissed me. This time his kiss was hungry, like he had not planned it and hadn’t been able to control himself. He was right. He was making me pay. But I didn’t regret it, not for a moment. Nash’s mouth on mine was the biggest high I could ever have. And I wanted more.

  The same peppermint breath, and this time his tongue found its way into my mouth. I was breathless with desire and my hands sought out the buttons on his jacket.

  “Not so fast,” he said, pulling away from me. His hands caught mine, and he yanked them away from his clothes. He wasn’t going to let me undress him. But I so desperately wanted to feel his bare skin under my fingertips.

  But then his hand was on my waist again, trailing down this time. Over my butt, which he squeezed. And then his fingers found the slit in my dress. I gasped again when I felt his hand on the inside of my thigh. He was feeling my skin like it was a piece of cloth that he was studying the texture of. I wanted more and more, and his hand trailed upward toward my throbbing wet core.

  “Are you regretting this yet?” he asked, looking at me with his darkened narrowed eyes.

  I shook my head, my voice caught in my throat. Regret? Was he kidding me?

  His fingers only lightly grazed my wet panties, and I arched my back, thrusting my body toward him. He caught my right breast with one hand, and with his other he pulled my panties aside.

  I
knew what was going to happen next, but I still didn’t expect the feeling. The surprise and the explosion of pleasure when Nash thrust two of his fingers inside me. Sliding them easily, but purposefully. My body quivered, shaking against his, and he squeezed my breast.

  “But wait, there’s more,” he said with a devious smile, thrusting his fingers in and out in a quick rhythmic motion. I shut my eyes, clutching his jacket with both my hands. I craned my neck, my head still hanging over the railing, my body draped over the edge. Nash held me to him, while his fingers continued to slide in and out of me. My feet were barely touching the ground.

  Within moments, I knew I was going to come. The anticipation, all those years of wanting him… and now, when the moment was here, I couldn’t hold back any longer.

  “Nash, I…” I raised my head up to look at him. My eyelids were heavy and drooping. I was in a daze of pleasure. My body was doing all the talking.

  “Come for me, Bonnie,” he whispered, increasing the speed of his thrusting. He was stroking me there, in my core. He had found the spot that was going to make me come. My nails dug into his flesh as I winced. Throwing my head back again, I curled my toes in my expensive heels as I came.

  But Nash didn’t stop. He held on to my breast with one hand, and the fingers of the other still worked inside me.

  My breasts heaved, pressing against his chest as he remained over me. When my breathing began to normalize a little and I opened my eyes, he started pulling his fingers out of me. That smile on his face was wide and satisfied.

  “Show me what you can do,” he said and stepped away from me suddenly. The smooth material of my dress slipped back into place as he took a few paces away from me.

  I could still hardly believe it. My body was reeling from the explosion that had just occurred. I bit down on my lip as I watched him.