Billionaire Alpha 2: (A Bad Boy Billionaire Novel) (15 page)

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Not really. I’m not sure what to say other than the fact that it depresses the hell out of me.” She shrugged and looked up at him as he stopped a comfortable distance from her, leaning back against the stage.

“I understand that, but it’s not like you’re blood related, Bethany.” He shrugged as if it wasn’t that big of a deal.

“It’s no different than you falling for one of your students, but you’re hell bent on not letting that happen.” She tilted her head, letting her lip lift as he shook his head in denial.

“Not even close. I’m bound by my agreement with the university and I’m in my thirties. I’m not interested in a college-aged tart.” He blushed as he held up his hands. “Not that you’re a college-aged…”

She cut him off with a loud laugh that felt good. “I get it, but most of the students here are far old enough for a relationship, Dr. Tarrington.”

“It’s different and this is your counseling session, not mine.”

“It is, you’re right. Mine is way worse. It will look like incest.” She stood up and stretched. “Enough of this… Besides, you don’t even come close to having the degree to counsel anyone.”

“True… Sort of. You got tax problems?” He smiled and she couldn’t help but chuckle. If Damon hadn’t swept her into a world where only he existed, she would be in line with the other thousand girls to try and snag Kendal. He seemed too good to be true, but Damon did too.

“No, but I’ll know where to come if I do.” She pointed toward the large white board, his scribbles everywhere. “You want me to work up some lecture notes for your classes starting next week?”

“Yep. Just like yesterday. Let’s look at the syllabus as well.”

“Will do.” She walked around the stage and jogged up the stairs as he hoisted himself back up. “Impressive. Ever been in a rock band?”

“Yep. I’m a guitar player through and through.” He wagged his eyebrows playfully.

“Wow. As if you weren’t attractive enough. Yeah, don’t go around bragging about that.”

“No shit, right?” He shrugged and pulled out a few papers from the lectern, handing them to Bethany. “Hey, any news on your friend?”

“Jake?”

“Yes. I haven’t heard anything since talking to his parents last week.”

“He’s still not woken up, but I’m going to visit today. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

“Man… I thought my college days were hard with all the crazy girls that just acted bazaar.”

“What’s the worst thing that happened?”

“Um no. When you’re not my TA we’ll talk.”

“How about me, you and Damon over beers? Story time?”

“Corona?”

“You bet.”

“Sign me up.” He laughed and pointed to something on the page, extending it toward her. “I’ll be starting here, but it jumps around a bit. Just do what you can.”

“No problem.” She took it and walked back down to one of the small desks.

“Did they convict the girl who stabbed Jake?”

“Not yet, but there’s too much evidence to believe it might have been anyone else.” Bethany let out a long sigh, her heart heavy. “Krista was my roommate for the last four years. Her mother said that she has bipolar disorder, but it’s never been this bad. I know it’s silly, but I can’t help but think that falling in love with Jake and being rejected is what pushed her over.”

“Could be a possibility. Most people with the illness take medication.”

“I’m sure she does too, but love has a way of rooting itself in deeply and jacking you up.” Bethany shook her head, still in a bit of shock over having the situation happen. “Just scary.”

“I think it’s a predisposition too though, Beth. Can I call you Beth?”

“Bethany please.” She tapped her pencil on the desk in front of her. Only Damon called her Beth and she wanted to keep it that way. Made it somehow more special. “So because she had been hurt before, you think it opened her up to being violent about it?”

“I think that someone who’s wanted love for a long time and finally gets it, feels a sense of ownership over it. Sometimes to the point of it being unhealthy. It becomes more like an obsession.”

“And when that love is denied or taken away they snap?” Bethany sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, her thoughts sliding from Krista to Damon. How long had he been opposed to loving someone?

“Sometimes, but I think it depends on the person.” Kendal moved to the edge of the stage again, squatting. “Take Damon for instance. He’s had plenty of shallow relationships, but he’s never, in all our years together, introduced me to anyone he claimed or called his girlfriend.”

“But what if something happened and he lost me? Would you think he would be violent?”

“Are you worried?” Kendal tilted his head to the side a little, his gaze inquisitive.

“No. I love him too much to think about a future without him. I don’t think it’s the situation with us, but I can’t help but wonder.”

“That’s natural. He loves you too. I can tell. Has he told you yet?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“I fell in love with a sophomore student of mine about six years ago and nothing happened, but my life fell apart because of it. Her parents sued the school and me for inappropriate behavior. That’s why I give my speech. I’m not interested in fucking up my life again. Love can kiss my ass for what it’s worth.”

Bethany sat in silence as if she’d been slapped. Never in a million years had she expected Kendal to share his story. She, of course, wanted to know more, but there was no way she was pushing him. They were destined to have a friendship whether she felt like it was a good idea or not. From what she could tell, he was loyal to Damon and she knew she was… So maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea.

“Damn…” She glanced down at the papers in front of her as the image of Damon’s expression when she mentioned loving him rolled across her vision. “I told him that I loved him and he looked like he had seen a ghost.”

“He’s got a lot of demons in his past. Give him time, Bethany. He’s a really good man, but he’ll force you to push past a load of bullshit before you get to see that guy.”

“I know. Protection mechanism, right?”

“Yep. We all have them, and for good reason.”

“He’s letting me in slowly, I just have to stick to the course.”

“You’ll be glad you did.”

She headed to the hospital after wrapping up her job assignments with Kendal. Damon texted that he would meet her there, but she told him to hold off. She needed time alone with Jake. Hopefully Damon would understand that, but maybe not. The fact that Jake had been texting her, begging for help the night of the accident left her raw and scarred.

She should have been there for him and yet she was getting laid on a couch, only concerned with her drive toward lusting Damon into loving her.

“Let it go. Fuck,” Bethany grumbled under her breath as she walked down the stark-white hospital corridor. Jake’s room was on the left at the end of the hall, his name on the door making things easier. The loud beeping of machines could be heard as she approached, and she paused outside the door with her hand on it, letting out a long breath before walking in.

Jake was sitting up in the bed, his skin pasty and pale, but he was alive.

“Oh my God.” She rushed toward the bed as a nurse held up her hand.

“No touching him. He’s not healed up just yet and I’m not putting him through another thing. Boy’s been through enough!”

Bethany stilled near the edge of the bed and reached out, taking his hand as tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me…”

His voice was weak, his smile barely lifting his mouth. “It’s not your fault, Bethany. I’m just glad I was able to fight her off some.”

“I’m still in shock that any of this happened.”

“Me too.” Jake squeezed her hand before laying back and closing his eyes. “This new guy… He’s good for you? He’s a solid dude?”

“Yes. He’s a good man. He’s got some hang-ups, but nothing any worse than one of us.”

Jake opened his eyes and tilted his head, the worry in his gaze so familiar it pushed her to move closer as her tears spilled onto her cheeks.

“Be careful. I know we can’t base everything on this situation with Krista, and I don’t want us to, but be careful. It’s hard to know someone if they don’t want you to, or at least parts of them.”

She reached out and brushed his blond hair from his eyes. “Don’t worry about me. Just rest. Damon has been here with me to visit you every day for the last week. I will be careful, but I’m learning more and more about him every day.”

“And you love him?”

“Very much so.”

“Does he love you?” Jake winced as the nurse poked at him under the covers from the opposite side of the bed.

“I think so. He’s scared to say it though.”

“But he shows it? Words mean nothing without the backing of action and affirmation.”

“He does.”

“Good. Tell him if he hurts you that I’ll kick his ass.”

Bethany laughed, not having the heart to tell Jake that there was no way he would take Damon in a fight. Her best friend was too beat up, too broken and scarred to do anything but lift him up.

“I will tell him and I wouldn’t put it past you.” She leaned over and kissed his forehead as he slipped into sleep, his breathing deep and peaceful.

Chapter 4

Bethany got home around four and decided on a quick nap before everyone was scheduled to arrive for dinner. She wasn’t much in the mood for company after seeing Jake bruised and laid up in the hospital, but they had advertisements to review and final plans for the wedding trip to make. Laying in the comfort of her bed, she finally gave herself over to the need for rest and slipped into the welcoming arms of darkness.

“Beth, baby…” Damon’s voice pulled at her. She tried to sit up, but he tightened his arms around her, the handsome thing laying behind her in the bed and spooning her. He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck and brushed his hand down her outer thigh. “You awake?”

“Yeah. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, or maybe I did. What time is it?” She curled up further and snuggled back against him.

“It’s almost seven.”

“Seven? Shit.” She pulled from him and slid off the side of the bed. “I need to get ready. I was hoping to take a shower.”

“There is no reason to hurry, baby. Just get ready and come out when you can. We’re just putting out snacks to hold us over until dinner is ready.”

Bethany pulled her shirt over her head quickly and slipped out of her slacks, walking toward her closet as she spoke over her shoulder. “Is everyone already here?”

Damon moved into the closet behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning down to kiss her shoulder. “Yeah, but they can wait.”

She swatted at him playfully. “You had me earlier today. Don’t make us late and have this Erica chick thinking I have no respect for other people’s time.”

“She’s not going to think that. She’s a bitch at the office, but when you get her alone, she’s just like the rest of us.”

“Get her alone?” Bethany turned and slid her arms around his waist as her lip turned up in a smirk. “Have you had her alone a lot?”

“That you’re jealous is
almost
cute.” He leaned down and brushed his lips past hers as he ran his hands down her back to cup her butt. “I want more of you. Let’s fuck first and then join them later.”

She laughed and pushed him back softly. “Love how you avoided the getting Erica alone question.”

He popped her butt and walked out of the closet, messing with himself from what she could tell. It was nice to know that she could turn him on without even trying.

“There is nothing to talk about. She’s nothing but a business partner to me. She has a thing for Matt, which I think I mentioned.”

“A thing?” Bethany called out as she tugged a cream-colored blouse from a hanger and pulled it over her head. She slipped into a nicer pair of jeans and left her feet bare. Her mother must have been shopping on Kent’s dime by the look of a few new things hanging in her closet.

“Yeah. She’s a creative type person, remember? Matthew is too. I think she would move in quickly if he even remotely showed interest in her.”

“He’s not interested?”

“Nope. He’s scared to death of her.”

“Why?” Bethany walked out as Damon bit his lip and shook his head.

“Not sure. Ask him.” He moved toward her and wrapped his arms back around her. “Fuck woman, you turn me on no matter what you’re wearing.”

“That’s because you know what’s beneath my clothes and that it all belongs to you.”

“Damn straight.” He slid his hand in her hair, his fingers pressing gently to the base of her head as he tilted her face toward him. “I’m looking forward to this trip. It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to go somewhere. It’s lonely going without someone to share it with.”

“I find it hard to believe someone as gorgeous as you would have to do anything alone.”

“It’s not about looks, Beth. It’s about trusting someone enough to let them into your world.”

“Are you letting me in?”

“I’m not sure I have any other option but to.”

She lifted up and pressed her lips to his, tilting her head to the side and opening her mouth as his tongue slid against hers. She groaned and tightened her arms around him as she sucked at his offering, something deep inside of her waking up. She wanted to drop to her knees in front of him, to feel his hands tighten in her hair, to taste his pleasure on her tongue. She broke the kiss, breathing a little harder thanks to the depravity of her thoughts.

His eyes sparkled with desire. It took her breath away.

“What are you thinking, you bad girl?”

“I was thinking how badly I want to lick your balls, suck your cock… Press my face against the most intimate parts of you and let the scent that belongs only to you become etched across my senses.” She leaned up and kissed him softly as he stared deadpan at her. “Just a desire that keeps haunting me.”

“We should explore this.” He reached for her as she turned and ran to the door. A soft yelp left her as he charged after her. “Beth… Now. Now!”

Bethany slowed just before walking into the kitchen, heat burning her cheeks from her forward response. A smile lifted her lips, leaving her feeling so beyond blessed. Her mother turned as she stood with Erica, Matt and Kent.