Page 4 of Contract of a Billionaire

Nostalgia hit me. One more night and I’d no longer lay my head down to sleep under my parents’ roof. One more night and I’d be thousands of miles away.

“I guess it’s part of growing up,” I mumbled under my breath softly.

I shook my head, then took off my dress, leaving me only in my white panties and bra. Discarding it into my hamper, I reached for my dress, hanging it on the rail of my canopy with my back to the door. It slipped off the hanger, falling silently to the floor.

Bending over, my ass in the air, my fingers curled around the soft material was exactly the position I was in when the door opened.

“What the… ?” A deep voice came from behind me.

For a moment, I stayed frozen, staring at the man upside down through my legs. Shiny black loafers. Tailored and expensive business suit. Stormy gray eyes that studied me.

Or maybe he studied my butt in the thong.

I shot up, whirling around.

The moment I saw him upright, my step faltered back involuntarily.

Hard face. Even harder eyes.

A shudder shot up my spine, and for a fraction of a moment, I forgot to breathe. The most gorgeous face I had ever seen. But it was not that which took hold of me. It was the darkness and ruthlessness in his gray gaze. A gaze the color of the skies right before a thunderstorm.

The angular jawline spoke of determination and stubbornness. The slight stubble on his face made him appear harsh and untouchable. Not that he needed it, because I’d be terrified if I found myself alone in a dark alley with him. The dark three-piece-suit hugged his broad, towering frame.

Lethal.

This man was lethal. I might have turned eighteen only today, but I’d stake my life on it. This man could end a human life without losing sleep.

His one hand was tucked into the pocket of his suit pants while the other hung casually down his body. My eyes flickered to that strong veiny hand. A single ring on it with some weird looking symbol. The letter ‘A’ with a skull.

We stared at each other, frozen, the seconds stretching into a lifetime. He was like a dark demon focused on his prey.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped out of my stupor, trying to appear brave.

“Where is she?” he snapped back.

“How in the hell should I know?” I narrowed my eyes on him. He reeked of darkness and danger. You’d think I was smart enough to scream for help. “Who the hell is she?”

My father always said that sometimes I was too brave for my own good. But I wasn’t reckless. At least not now. All I had to do was scream and my father would come after this guy. Although, if I was honest with myself, I wasn’t sure that Dad could kick his ass.

He cocked his eyebrow, as if he was surprised. When he didn’t answer, I continued, “And who are you?” My voice hitched just a tad bit higher, while my heart thundered against my ribs.

He slipped his other hand into his pocket as his gaze fell down my body, lazy and observant. Just as slowly, his gaze traveled back up my barely decent state.

“Watch your tone, little girl,” he drawled.

Be smart, Autumn. Be smart, Autumn.

“Or what, old man?” I sneered. Jesus, this wasn’t smart, yet my mouth refused to stop. “One peep and my dad will… Kick. Your. Ass.”

Maybe. But he didn’t need to know that.

He took a step forward, I took one back. Another step towards me and like we were made of the same poles on two magnets, I took one back.

“You really think so?” His tone was low, deep, almost threatening.

I pushed my shoulders back and realized my mistake right away. I revealed more of my barely covered body. But I couldn’t show weakness.

“I do,” I sneered. “Now get lost.”