Page 101 of The Reluctant Billionaire

‘It’s okay,’ I manage, because the weirdest thing is happening. I’ve gone all floppy and shaky, and if Aide wasn’t holding me tightly I might actually fall down. It’s as if I’ve been holding myself together this entire day, and last night, to be fair, and now he’s here and I can just collapse.

I don’t need to put on a brave face anymore, or dazzle anybody, or make an effort to be the life and soul when, deep down, I’ve felt the polar opposite.

It’s seriously emotional, being here in his arms when I’ve accepted not seeing him for days. I’m sure there’s lots to say, but I don’t give a fuck right now, because his actions are all that matter.

He chose me, which sounds awful, because I don’t want to win a battle against some poor little impoverished children. But he chose us for this weekend.

And it really does mean the world.

I pull away just enough to raise my face to his. He’s a little blurry, because my eyes are teary, but he’s so bloody magnificent, especially because his face breaks into an ear-to-ear grin at what he sees. The soft rays of the sunset are hitting his jaw from the west, and, even better, that wariness is gone from his eyes, and it’s a wonderful thing. We stand there, grinning at each other like fools.

‘There she is,’ he says, reaching one hand up to brush my hair off my face with the gentlest fingertips. ‘There’s my girl.’

He bends his head towards me and all my inner cheerleaders goyes! yes! yes!But before he can kiss me, there’s a polite cough.

‘I’ll just—’ Davide says, and I jerk my head in his direction.

‘Oh my God,’ I’m so sorry!’ I pat Aide on the waist to signal he should release me.

‘Not a problem,’ Davide says with a dashing, and probably trademarked, grin that would have most humans with a pulse swooning. ‘You guys catch up.’

‘Oh, fuck,’ Aide says.

I glance up at him and almost laugh at the star-struck expression on his face.

‘Mate,’ he says, hugging me against his side and sticking his hand out for Davide to shake. ‘Sorry. Aidan. How are you doing?’

Davide takes Aide’s hand graciously. ‘I’m doin’ great. You’re a lucky guy.’ He nods in my direction.

‘Yeah.’ Aide hugs me harder and swallows audibly. ‘I know.’

Davide raises his glass to us. ‘Santé. Have a great evening and I’ll see you guys around.’

As he saunters off, Aide drops his forehead to mine and slides a warm, strong hand around the back of my neck. ‘Twenty-four hours and you find yourself a fucking mega celeb,’ he groans. ‘Jesus Christ. But who can blame him?’

‘It’s called karma,’ I tell him chirpily.

‘I deserved that.’

‘He’s very attractive.’ I tilt my head upwards. ‘But I only have eyes for one man, no matter how much that pisses me off. I may have dropped your name into the conversation about twenty times.’

‘Good,’ he growls, and then his lips are on mine, firm and hungry and relentless. I melt against him, opening for him,wanting everything he has to give me. The solidity of his body, the intrusion of his tongue—it’s all so incredibly welcome. I don’t want anything except this.

I don’t want anyone except him.

I suspect we’re putting on quite a show. He’s insatiable, kissing me thoroughly, licking his tongue deep into my mouth, reminding me who I belong to. As if I needed reminding. One hand’s still holding me around my neck while the other slides down my body till it finds my arse and squeezes it hard.

Um, that squeeze isn’t the only thing that’s hard.

I break the kiss. ‘How did you get here?’ I ask breathlessly, roaming my hands down the front of his firm chest. He really is so delicious. So hyper-masculine.

‘Net Jets,’ he says sheepishly. ‘Totum has a Marquis card.’

‘Wow,’ I say innocently. ‘Imagine how fewer carbon emissions you could have caused if you’d just come with me in the first place.’

He slaps my bum lightly. ‘I’m offsetting it so much I could probably replant the Amazon.’

‘Glad to hear it.’ I say. I stand on my tiptoes so I can kiss him. ‘And I’mveryglad you’re here.’