Page 92 of Contract of a Billionaire

God, I hated remembering Abu Dhabi. I hated myself even more for still wanting him and succumbing to my craving for him. My thighs clenched remembering last night. I didn’t think I was strong enough to resist him if I spent another night in bed with him.

Stupid woman, my reason whispered.

“What happened?” she questioned. “I want to hear it from you.”

I shook my head and my lower lip trembled. Goddamn emotions. They got you nowhere, I swear.

Branka took my free hand into hers and squeezed. “Alessio never said a goddamn thing to me. I started to put the pieces together on my own. When Kol was born, it confirmed my suspicion. Since neither you nor Alessio said anything, I kept waiting. I don’t know what happened between you two, but I think it’s time you come clean. Both of you.”

Letting a shuddering breath out, I felt a tremor in my chest, my heart and my limbs. Four damn years and it still hurt just as it did the first day.

“I went to his room,” I said, my voice small. “He had someone else there.”

Her incredulous expression stared back at me. “Alessio? Cheating?”

I shrugged, hiding how much it really fucking hurt. “We never really established we were dating.”

She shook her head. “No, no, no.” I had no idea if she was saying ‘no’ to my assumption of dating or ‘no’ to Alessio cheating. “Alessio would never cheat.”

Well, he did.But I kept those words behind my lips. I saw him with my own two eyes, both times; otherwise I’d be persuaded by the conviction in my best friend’s voice.

“No, Autumn, you don’t understand,” Branka continued when I remained silent. She must have seen it in my eyes that I didn’t believe her. “He saw what Father did to our mother. Alessio’s never had a relationship with a woman. Ever. I can’t tell you why. He will have to. But I’d bet this was my father’s doing.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Never mind my father,” she retorted dryly. “May he rot in hell.” I couldn’t agree more. He was a creepy and cruel motherfucker. The little bits and pieces of what he’d done to Branka were enough to churn any stomach. His visit in the hospital when I gave birth was enough reason to want to murder him. “In Abu Dhabi, after you left. The next day Alessio came down to our floor. He was banging on my door like crazy. He looked like shit. When I accused him of standing me up for lunch, he looked at me like I was crazy. He thought it was the day that we arrived. ”

I still couldn’t follow what she was saying. “So he had jet lag?” I asked. “That doesn’t explain him getting a blow job by another woman the night we were supposed to meet up.”

I fucking hated how bitter my voice sounded. Four years should be enough not to care and move on. Except, I didn’t. I hadn’t dated anyone else. I had gone out to dinner with men here and there, but it ended after the first date. I compared them all to him. Alessio Russo, the man who broke my heart.

I hadn’t kissed another man. Friends didn’t count. Ugh, no wonder I dreamt about having sex with him and got all hot and bothered. Wet dreams were a bitch when you haven’t had sex in four years.

God, his hands knew exactly how to get me off in my dream. And his mouth–

Instantly, my insides ignited into flames. That was hands down the best dream. It was hot porn worthy. The way he pumped into me, demanding my pleasure before his. And when he spilled inside me, he grunted my name as he finished. Yeah, it was a dream but I’d be sure to keep it stored for nights when I had to get myself off. Women would pay big money to see such a beautiful man unravel.

A strange possessiveness shot through me. I’d have to claw out the eyes of anyone who saw him unravel. Maybe I should talk to him and tell him if we would share a bed, no other women. Or I’d have to turn into a killer.

Fucking lovely. From saving the world to a murderer.

Nothing like going from one extreme to another.

“I’ll cut off my pinky if he cheated,” Branka tried again. “Talk to him.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m telling you, woman. I saw him with my own two eyes.” Not to mention what had happened in London. “It seems your pinky will have to go.”

“Everything is not as it seems, Autumn.” Branka’s voice held that note of vulnerability. The same one she usually had when she talked about her father. “Trust me on this one. Talk to Alessio. Ask him to explain that night.”

I sighed. It wouldn’t hurt… I guess. At least to get his admission. Or he could deny it, but I knew what I'd seen. Not to mention, I heard those fucking words he threw my way in London.

“Okay,” I caved. “I’ll confront him. Doyouforgive me?” I asked. I couldn’t bear losing my best friend. “Kol is your nephew and you always treated him as such. And he already considers you his aunt. But none of it makes it right. That I kept him from you.” Truthfully, I kept him from Alessio even more.

Assuming he didn’t know already.

“I’ll forgive you if you talk to him,” she said with a conviction I didn’t exactly feel. “He’s in Kol’s life now. Keep him there. Alessio deserves this. He deserves Kol and you.”

Branka loved her brother and her loyalty was sometimes blinding. Not that I’d tell her that. He was her savior when she was a little girl. When her mother failed her, her big brother swept in like a knight.