Page 46 of Forbidden Billionaires, Vol. 9

I lay awake in my room, staring at the ceiling. Why doesn't he want me to hook up with Connor? He had stormed off before I had gotten to ask him about it. First he had lied about Connor being a player, and then he had asked me not to hook up with his friends.

Does he like me?

This was stupid. We were both adults. I looked at my alarm clock. It was only twelve thirty. He was probably still up. I climbed out of bed and pulled on my silk robe. Before I lost my nerve, I knocked on his door.

A moment later he opened it. He was only wearing boxers. And glasses. I hadn't really been serious when I told him I liked guys in glasses. But they were so sexy on him.

"So, you wear glasses?" I asked. Obviously.

"Sorry," he said. "I should have told you. But it's only when I'm not wearing my contacts."

"Oh, no, that's fine. I was just rambling the other day anyway. I mean, who doesn't like tall, dark, and handsome? Glasses are nice though. They look good on you."

He lowered his eyebrows slightly.

"I like what you've done with your room." Are those handcuffs on his bedpost?

He lifted his arm and put his hand on the doorframe to block my view. "Thanks."

"Why did you lie to me about Connor? Jackson told me that Connor doesn't really sleep around."

"I guess I was just rambling."

"It doesn't seem like you ever ramble."

He shrugged.

"Why don't you want me to date Connor?" I didn't really want to hook up with Connor, but I wanted to know Rory's reasoning. I needed to know if he liked me, because this tension was driving me crazy.

"Well, if you two dated and then broke up, things would be awkward here."

"Right." I tried to keep my eyes on his face, but I found his abs really distracting. "No other reason?"

"Look, Keira, you're a cool girl. Hell, I don't know any other girls that would have joined in on our Nerf battle."

"Thanks."

"And I don't want to fuck this up. I'll follow your rules. And I know that I can't stop you from hooking up with my friends. I'll revoke the rule if that's what you want."

"That's not what I want."

I saw his Adam's apple rise and fall. "So what do you want?"

You! I could feel myself gaping at him. I bit my lip. I wanted to tell him to forget about our pact. I wanted so badly to kiss him.

He smiled at me. "Look, it's late. I'm going to get some sleep."

"Right. Of course. Goodnight."

I stepped back and he closed his door in my face. That was weird. I walked back to my room and climbed into my bed. It definitely seemed like he liked me.

***

I heard movement in the kitchen. I glanced at my alarm clock.

It was 7 a.m. I was still tired, but I had an idea.

And I didn't want to miss this opportunity.

I got out of bed and put on a lacy push-up bra and a pair of matching panties.

I walked out of my room and into the kitchen before I could chicken out.

Rory had his back to me. He was wearing just his boxers and cooking something on the stove. It smelled amazing.

"Good morning," I said and walked toward the fridge.

"Hey, Keira." He didn't turn around to look at me. "Do you want some pancakes?"

"Absolutely. Thanks." I sat down at the kitchen counter and admired the muscles on his back. Every time he flipped a pancake his muscles would awaken. I could watch him cook all day.

When he finally turned around, he didn't even seem to notice that I was just in my sexiest underwear. Notice me! He put down a stack of pancakes in front of me and sat down on the stool next to me.

"These are really good," I said.

"Well, I am a chef," he said and smiled at me.

We continued to eat in silence. Now I just felt awkward. I thought he'd find this sexy and alluring. But he didn't even notice. Or maybe he thought it was awkward.

"Where are your clothes?" he finally asked as he took another bite.

You're supposed to kiss me, not quiz me! "Since we're just friends, I figured you wouldn't mind if I walked around like this. Besides, you walk around in just your boxers."

"That's fine. I don't mind at all."

"Good."

"Good." It looked like he wanted to laugh. He was so infuriating. And now I was growing increasingly more embarrassed.

"What are you doing today?" Maybe I could somehow salvage this conversation.

"I have work and then I need to get some stuff for the party tomorrow night."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Just the usual stuff."

"Of course." I literally had no idea what he was talking about. But I didn't want him to think I was a loser.

Rory finished his pancakes and picked up his plate. "Oh, you have some syrup on your face."

"Crap, where?"

He tapped the side of his lips.

I reached up and wiped the corner of my mouth.

"No, other side," he reached over and brushed his thumb along my bottom lip.

He's going to kiss me! A dull ache was spreading through my stomach. My lingerie to breakfast trick had worked!

But instead, he removed his hand from my face and licked his finger. Fuck that was hot. Somehow that was even sexier than him kissing me.

"What's it like to have a one night stand?" I blurted out.

Rory lowered his eyebrows. "Why do you want to know exactly?" He put his plate back down and rested his elbow on the counter.

"Well, I was thinking about having one."

"Really? I thought you didn't do one night stands, Keira."

"I don't. But maybe I should. You certainly seem to have a lot of fun."

"Mhm."

"So, I was thinking, maybe you could teach me how."

"You want me to teach you how to have a one night stand?"

"Yes." With you.

"Why the sudden change of...ethics?"

"Well, there's this guy that I work with that I really like. But he isn't looking for anything serious. And I can't seem to get him off my mind. So I thought maybe I should try him out. It out. It, as in a one night stand."

"Aren't you a freelance writer? I thought you just worked from here?"

"Well there's an office. For meetings and stuff. It definitely exists."

Rory was smiling at me. "Okay. I can help you out. If that's what you really want."

"Yeah, that would be great."

"Okay. Do you mind doing the dishes? I need to get going." He walked away and went into his room.