Billionaire Alpha 2: (A Bad Boy Billionaire Novel) (6 page)

Bethany took another step back as a large ball of regret pressed into her throat, the room seeming hot all of a sudden. She wasn’t even sure how to react, so she didn’t. She dropped the paper she had picked up and walked toward the door. Damon’s hand on her wrist stopped her. She turned back and pinned him with expressionless resolve.

“I’m not like every other man, Bethany. You’re not allowed to leave your mark on me. I’m here for sex and if you are too, great, but if not…”

“Fuck you,” she whispered, and smiled as if he didn’t matter. She needed him not to, but he did… far too much.

Pulling from his grasp, she walked through the small door, the hall seeming to close in on her. She didn’t stop until she got back to the hotel, the room ice cold from leaving the AC on too long. She laid down on her bed, rolling up in the covers and regretting it immediately. It smelled like Damon, the deep musky tones rushing into her nose and over her tongue as she groaned.

They couldn’t be a couple anyway, could they?

He was her fucking brother. No way would they be able to figure things out. It was too complicated.

So was sex enough? Could she just enjoy the feel of his hands on her, the taste of his tongue, the deep thrust of his body into hers? She groaned again, her nipples budding at the very thought.

She was lost to the idea of being beneath him as much as possible, but that was simply because she loved him. If there was no love there… how could the emotion be so damned strong?

Her phone buzzed.

Damon.

“Bethany.” She answered it very professionally, hating herself, hating him… hating every-fucking-thing.

“Kent and I are headed out of the office. Feel free to do whatever it is that you women do when you’re pissed. I should be back later tonight, but if not, I’ll be in the lobby at ten tomorrow morning and we’ll head home.”

“Is there something you guys need me to do while you’re out?” she asked, her heart breaking over and over at his dismissal of her. She was smart and brilliant, and this cock of a man was trying to tear her down.

“Nope. Just enjoy yourself. I’ll take notes today and you can read them tomorrow on the plane while I sleep. I’m sure I have another all-nighter.”

“Let me know if you change your mind.” She hung up this time as a hopeful ‘fuck you’ through the phone.

Tossing the thing halfway across the room, she let herself cry into the soft white pillow beneath her. She wasn’t going to win the battle by being bitchy and fighting him with her own ammo. Having not been in more than one real relationship her adult life, she was way out of her league. The one thing she did have that he wanted, and he had admitted it, was her body.

If he were willing to use his as a weapon against her, perhaps it was time for her to return the favor.

Bethany turned over in the bed, her long hair splayed out all over the place, her makeup running into her eyes as they burned. He was a bastard, and yet she knew so much more sat just underneath the perfectly constructed facade that was Damon Bryant.

Sex would be the tool, the only means she had at breaking him down. She wanted to know the man underneath, yearned for his time and attention. She would use herself and stick to the rule he had laid down for her a few minutes ago. She was most certainly going to brand herself all over him, but he wasn’t going to get any further into her heart.

She would wedge herself so far into his thoughts, into his desires, that he begged for her time, for her attention, for her sex.

She wiped at her tears once more, her resolve setting into place. She hated to be a bitch and play dirty, but Damon left her no choice…

Getting up, she walked to the small lounge chair in the room and texted Philip.

Bethany:
I enjoyed coffee the other day. We should do it again.

Philip:
Me too. How about today? Lunch or dinner with me?

Bethany:
How about on Wednesday you come up and have lunch with me at work.

Philip:
Not sure that would be okay with them.

Bethany:
They can’t tell me who I can eat with, right?

Philip:
This is true and the dick can’t fire me… he already did. LOL

She smiled, unable to help herself. Hurting Philip wasn’t on her laundry list of things to do, but getting him to help her break Damon in half… now that very much was and it reigned supreme.

Chapter 2

Tuesday morning came fast, Bethany having ordered room service the night before and stayed in her pj’s all evening. A few sappy chick flicks later and she was a ball of tears, wishing that something besides her new plan would work. She knew a different Damon existed. He was the one that Matt worshiped. The one that was shocked to find out that maybe she loved him. The one that held her the first night they were together, not kicking her out, but tucking her against him as they slept.

Where was that guy? To what extreme would she have to go to dig through all of his protection to reach him? Was it worth it?

“What the fuck am I going to do when I get there?”

Because the truth of the matter was plain and simple. She was going to get there. It didn’t matter what it took. Needing to know if anything could exist between them beyond the fiery physical attraction was paramount.

Bethany finished packing up the room, throwing Damon’s stuff in his suitcase as well. A soft knock on the door caught her attention. She tucked her pink silk blouse into a black skirt that hugged her hips, but fanned out on her legs. It wasn’t meant for the office, but perhaps a night on the town.

She opened the door as Damon leaned against the frame, his hair a mess, his eyes bloodshot.

“I came to get my bag. Didn’t want you to have to deal with it.” He yawned and walked in as she moved back. His eyes shifted down her body, stopping on her legs. “You look good.”

So one night of sleep left him acting like an ass, but two opened him up to be the guy she was in search of. His voice was soft and kind, his expression showing interest. She almost laughed, but caught herself. Making fun of him wouldn’t get them anywhere. He might be kind for a few hours, but his anal-retentive side would rear its ugly head soon.

Better to play her game starting now.

“I packed it up for you, but I figured I would leave it. The bell man could come get it or you could.” She shrugged and walked toward her suitcase, popping the handle and pulling it toward the door without paying him much attention.

“I’ll get yours too. Just leave it there.” He walked toward her, but she side-stepped him, her eyes brushing past him as if he were nothing more than a silly boy who thought to gain her attention.

“I’m good. Take care of your own. I can take care of myself.” She opened the door without looking back. “See you downstairs.”

Bethany walked into the hall, letting the door close before she let out her shaky breath. What if he took her rejection to heart and completely turned from her? What if her plan blew up in her face like most of her nefarious acts over the last few years had? Nothing ever turned out right when she acted outside of her consciousness. Asking her mom to marry Kent to help her with her college funding had been a prime example. Yeah, college was paid for, but at what cost?

She had fallen in love with her fucking soon-to-be brother.

Riding the elevator down to the bottom floor, she coached herself internally. She could do this. She could be this girl. He was aloof and quite an ass without effort. She could play that same game. If he pulled too far away, then she would stop playing and try something else.

Why did she have to feel so damn desperate to make him hers? The thought was consuming. The need to belong to him was far more than a casual fuck, which scared her thoughts and broke her heart.

She walked toward Kent in the lobby and smiled as she stopped beside him. “How did things work out for you guys?”

“Oh Bethany, great.” He reached out and pulled her into a side hug, looking behind her as if trying to find Damon. “It was all good. Damon figured it out and we should be set. That boy is brilliant. I’m glad you’re learning from him and not me.”

Damon’s voice surprised her as he spoke behind her. “I’m not all that Dad. I’m sure Bethany could have figured it out had I given her a chance.”

“You never give anyone a chance. You’re a glory-stealer.” Kent laughed and moved toward the front desk, pulling his wallet from his back pocket.

Damon moved to stand in front of her, slipping his hands into his slacks. “Hey… About what I said…”

“You were right.” She shrugged and turned her attention to Kent’s back.

“Beth. It’s complicated.”

“No, it’s really not.” She smiled and turned back to him, letting her eyes move over the perfect planes of his handsome face, his dark eyes holding deep emotion. She ignored it completely, having sold out to pushing this speeding train off the tracks in hopes of making a lasting impact on him.

“Yes it is. I shouldn’t have said tho…” She cut him off by lifting her hand.

“I’m not interested in this. Your cock is big and you’re as sexy as sin. I want our relationship to remain uncomplicated. You and me… we’re never going to be anything other than family, so until we are… let’s enjoy the only thing we have in common. A love for fucking.”

She walked toward the front door, the anger in his gaze scorching her. If he wanted to apologize, it was far too late. He hadn’t acted like an ass once or twice, but on regular occasion. Only one way to break him down… the same fucking way he was obliterating her control - take it from him completely.

She smiled as the flight attendant stopped beside her, the boy metro for sure, but handsome. His smile widened a little as he looked down at her. Bethany smiled back, letting the gesture reach her eyes.

“Something to drink for you?”

“What do you suggest?” She leaned toward him a little, her tongue touching the edge of her mouth. “I’m not in the mood for liquor, but I am
so
thirsty.”

The boy’s smile lifted a little, until Damon cleared his throat. Bethany glanced over at him. His stare pinned her with accusation, but she ignored it, chuckling a little.

“It would seem my boss is thirsty as well.”

“Boss?” the boy asked.

“And my brother, actually.” Bethany stared at Damon for a minute more, the light in his gaze dimming a little. Was he hurting the way she was? She wanted to be glad of it, and yet it tore at her resolve. She couldn’t do this for long. It wasn’t who she was at all.

“Gin and Sprite,” Damon responded before leaning back and closing his eyes.

“I’ll just have the Sprite.” Bethany smiled again as the boy nodded and winked at her.

“He’s not your type.” Damon’s words surprised her, the lack of emotion driving her forward in her own form of attack.

“You’re right. I like assholes.”

He opened his eyes and turned his face a little. “I tried to apologize.”

“You didn’t mean it, but it’s okay.”

“You play games, Beth. Good luck with it. You’re not going to last long.”

“Why is that?”

“Because we both know that where I prefer lust, you prefer love.”

“Is that because I’m a woman?”

“That and you like to play it safe. If you love, and the guy returns the emotion, then forever might be locked in. If lust is all there is, then you stand a chance of losing someone that makes you feel alive.” His eyes moved to her mouth as he pulled his bottom lip into his mouth briefly.

She couldn’t help but watch his every move. Everything about him so sensual and right. How could she not love him? He was damaged, and damn if she didn’t want to repair him.

“You’re wrong.” She shrugged and turned toward the seat in front of her.

“Am I?”

“Yep.”

“Let me prove it to you.” He unbuckled his seat belt and slipped into the aisle, the fasten seatbelt sign still on. He stopped and hovered over her as she glanced up at him.

“Lust takes courage. Love is for pussy’s.” He leaned down and touched the side of her face. “If all you feel is lust, meet me in the bathroom in the back. Prove it.”

“I don’t have to prove anything to you.” She pulled back, the idea of having him take her in the small space of the restroom so wicked hot it caused her body to ache immediately.

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about proving it to me. Come prove it to yourself. You wanna play with the big boys… you have to believe the truth in your own game. Come earn your stripes, little girl.” He turned and walked to the back of the plane.

Turning back around in her seat, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back, not at all ready for something so raunchy. No matter how much of a deep dark fantasy it was, there was no way she was giving control back. That’s all he wanted by making the claim.

She sat there for a few more minutes as her body woke up to the idea of him all over her. The deep throb between her thighs was a quick reminder that Damon’s body was more than worth rendering control to him and allowing him to take advantage of her. The shower scene washed over her and she stifled a moan, getting up before she lost her courage.

Her fingers gripped the seats as she moved quickly, the door to the bathroom opening as she approached. She pushed her fingers into his chest and moved into the small space with him. His brow lifted as he chuckled.

“Never in a million years would I have expected you to get up.”

“I don’t care what you expected.” She pushed at his chest slightly. He sat down, his fingers brushing the back of her knees.

“Love is messy, Beth. Stay with me in lust and we can drown in each other over and over again.” He slid his hands up her thighs, into her skirt, fingers running along the edge of her panties. He brushed by her sex as she closed her eyes, tugging away from him.

Bethany turned and looked over her shoulder as she let her eyes drag across him. “Take my panties off and stop talking your bullshit nonsense.”

“Yes ma’am.” He smirked and reached up, his large hands palming her ass before he dragged her panties down. His wet tongue slid up the back of her thigh, his lips soft and sucking at her skin as he moved. She leaned forward, her back arching slightly as he moved her skirt up her back, his tongue licking at the swollen wetness of her lips. She pushed back as he groaned, the sensual connection with him enough to undo her.