Page 34 of Contract of a Billionaire

“Nothing beats good coffee,” I purred.

“Sex does,” she snickered. “If you’d only give it a try.”

I shook my head but my cheeks flushed because her brother immediately came to mind. She was absolutely right. Sex beat coffee a hundred times over.

“Have you given it a try?” I snickered, knowing the answer very well.

She shrugged. “I came close, but during our adventures, I will find an exotic man and have mind-blowing sex. You will too.”

I smiled but hesitation and a demand to know Alessio’s plans for us warred inside me. He didn’t say that he wanted to see me again. Granted, I didn’t ask, but why couldn’t he at least show that he wanted to see me again.

He dropped me off, sexy as all hell in his ripped up jeans and black t-shirt, without even a kiss. He could have at least pecked my cheek.

“My brother agreed,” Branka beamed and I blinked in confusion. Her brother told her he should have kissed me goodbye?

I met her eyes so much like her brothers, shining like molten silver. “He did?” I asked surprised.

Gosh, I wanted to have sex with him again. Again and again. I wanted to explore his entire body, kiss every inch of his skin and more than anything, I wanted to study the ink marking his chest and arms. I wanted to kiss his scars hiding underneath it. I wanted to know the story that he hid.

“Yeah, Alessio thinks it will be a good experience for us,” she elaborated and I ignored the sinking feeling of disappointment. Alessio was fine with me just going on my way. Last night didn’t mean as much to him as it did to me. He probably had women on speed dial. “Oh my gosh, we’re really doing this,” she beamed.

Pushing Alessio out of my mind and getting back on track to my goal, I focused on our impending trip.

My lips tipped up. “We’re really doing this,” I repeated.

Branka’s eyes traveled over the floor. “What are you doing?”

I shrugged. “Preparing.”

“Where are your parents?” she demanded to know. “We should all go out to celebrate. Late lunch.”

I returned my attention back to my notes. “Maman is shopping and Father is meeting with an old friend or something.”

“Then let’s just go,” she suggested. “Your favorite. Kebabs.”

I groaned. “Why do you tempt me?”

She grinned wide. “Because I’m evil. Bwahaha.”

Attempting to let out an evil sound, she totally ruined it with her contagious laughter. I tried so hard to keep a straight face, biting the inside of my cheek. But the look in my eyes must have ruined it because she lunged onto the floor, knocking me backwards. I sat my ice coffee out of the way, barely avoiding disaster on my plush white rug.

“I know you want to laugh,” she teased, tickling me. “Show me. Show me.”

We giggled on my floor for the next half an hour. Just like we had in our high school years.

* * *

Feeling lighterand with Alessio out of my mind, we entered the restaurant in downtown Montréal two hours later. I wore a simple light green dress that stopped a little above my knees. Each time I wore it, I received compliments that it brought out the green in my eyes. Branka borrowed my red dress of the same design, making us appear more like sisters.

We laughed and chatted about all our grand plans, waiting for the hostess to come and seat us.

My hair fell down my back in soft waves and I opted for no make-up. It made me look younger, but I really had nobody to impress. Because the man I gave my virginity to thought it was a good decision for me to move on. But hey, I wasn’t bitter. Not at all.

“Long time no see, ladies.”

The hostess greeted us and both of us turned our attention to her. “Hello, Jasmine. How are you?”

“Better question is how are you two?” Her eyes studied both of us. “I hear you’re leaving in a week for Asia, Branka.” My eyebrows shot up at that knowledge. Jasmine must have read my expression because she added, “Alessio.”