Billionaire: Billionaire Romance: Billionaire Tiger (A Billionaire New Adult Shifter Contemporary Romance) (13 page)

Alexa stood up and straightened her top awkwardly. "I don't know how I feel about this..."

"I know but you've seen him. he's fine now," James said. "We'll just get him home and he should feel better after some rest."

"Are you sure?" she said, eyeing Dane, who was looking up at her like a lovestruck teenager.

James nodded and stooped down to slip his hands under Dane's shoulders and sit him up.

"Well, I'm not.” Alexa said and watched as Dane swung his legs awkwardly over the side of the bed as James tried to help him to his feet.

He staggered a few times and fell onto Alexa clumsily as he tried to get his footing.

"Look. I...I'm sorry. I can't let you take him. Not unless...not unless I can come with you."

Alexa was sure her own expression mirrored James' look of surprise. She'd heard herself say the words but almost didn't believe she had. She'd never done anything like this before and had certainly never felt such an intense connection to a patient before. But after what she'd just done, she couldn't just let him walk out of her life. She felt some sort of protectiveness over him that she couldn't quite explain.

"That's fine," James said, gathering their things and starting toward the door.

"Wait, what?!" she said,and followed after him. "Fine. Just like that. I mean...you have no idea who I am."

James chuckled. "Yeah, well, you just saved my boss's life. I'm pretty sure I can trust you."

"What about him?" Alexa said, gesturing to Dane.

"After the gift you've just given him, I'm pretty sure he's going to feel indebted to you for life."

He turned and ushered Dane into the back of his town car. He closed the door and got into the driver's seat. "You sure you don't want to ride with us?”

Now that Dane was tucked away inside the car, she felt like she could think clearly again. "No, no that's fine. I'll follow you."

Every bone in her body screamed to just turn around and go the other way. There was something about him...maybe his darkness, his piercing eyes, almost an animalistic draw that pulled Alexa in and made her feel a little lightheaded when she got close to him.

I hope I don't regret this
, she said to herself as she jumped into her car and started the engine. At first she was wary about helping him at all and now here she was, volunteering to go to Dane's house without knowing anything about him. He could be a dangerous man, a criminal, some kind of monster.

But somehow, the only thing she was afraid of was how this stranger made her feel. She was doing things against her better judgment. It was like she was under his influence. The thing that scared her wasn't the hold he seemed to have over her. It was of letting him walk out of her life without every seeing him again.

CHAPTER 3

Alexa tried her hardest to talk herself out of this crazy adventure across town. This was so unlike her. She was usually independent, cautious, the type of doctor who would do whatever it took to help a patient while still making responsible decisions.

But in the past hour or so, she'd dragged some unconscious stranger into her clinic, given him a risky blood transfusion, and now volunteered to go with him to his house in the middle of the night.

The further out into the country she followed them, the more desperate she felt, but when she thought of Dane's face, those eyes, his touch...she ached to be close to him again.

Geez, you really are desperate, Alexa, if you're head over heels for some stranger.

She hoped a little tough love might snap her out of this craziness but Dane seemed to have her under some sort of spell and no matter how much she knew she should turn her car around and get away from there, she was powerless against him.

She followed the town car as it slowed then turned down a long drive. She couldn't stop her mouth from hanging open as they came through the trees and pulled up to a sprawling estate.

"Who the hell is this guy?!" she said, staring up in awe at the ivy-covered country house.

As she stopped her car, turned off the engine and jumped out, she stared up at the home. It was odd, it looked so familiar, at first she wasn't sure how, but then it clicked. Its pointed eaves and towering arched gables reminded her of an old Gothic painting that had once hung in her grandmother's house. Alexa used to stare up at it and daydream about meeting her prince and running away to live happily ever after in that house.

James jumped out the car in front of her, immediately opening the door and helping Dane out of the back seat. The moment Dane turned to look at her, Alexa immediately felt like that little girl again, like maybe this was her happily ever after and Dane her prince.

You're getting a little ahead of yourself aren't you?
she told herself, shaking off the silly thought as James motioned for her to follow.

Alexa went toward the pair, waiting for James to take one arm before taking Dane's other and flinging it over her shoulder. As they headed carefully up to the front door, it swung open and an older gentleman came rushing out to greet them.

"What is it? What's happened?"

"He collapsed, hit his head." James said.

"I told him not to go out. Stubborn fool."

"He came to, knew his name, so that's a good sign," Alexa piped up.

The man hadn't noticed her before but when she spoke, he stopped mid-step and stared at Alexa with the strangest look on his face. It was a mixture of surprise and what seemed like recognition, almost the same way James had looked at her a few times.

"Uh...yes. That is a good sign. Miss." he nodded his head, almost bowing to Alexa before looking up at the sky and then turning back to James. "Come. We have to get him inside before...before he falls over again."

With each man on one side of Dane, they led him up the steps and through the oversized oak door and inside the sprawling house. Alexa followed behind them, stepping tentatively through the door, still aware of the voice in her head telling her she'd done enough, that she didn't know who the hell these people were and that she should get the hell out of there. Maybe it was her fascination with that painting all those years ago, and the feeling that she had been here before. For whatever reason, she had to see what was inside. Not to mention the fact that she had promised Dane she would take care of him and stay with him until he was better.

Inside, the house wasn't what she was expecting. Rich brocade fabrics made the sofas and carpets look warm and inviting and a smattering of oil lamps around the room and a roaring fire in the sitting room instantly made Alexa feel at home.

The men had taken Dane up the oversized staircase in the center of the foyer, so she tore herself away from snooping and followed after them taking each step in turn, slowly, just in case she had to make a quick retreat for some reason.

At the top of the staircase, two doors were flung open and the men had placed Dane into an oversized four-poster bed draped with lush crimson and black velvet blankets. He wasn't moving and his eyes were closed.

James turned to her, motioning for her to come inside, so she did, tip-toeing into the room and moving toward the bed. As she looked down at Dane, she felt that instant need to help him. She wanted to check his vitals again, to take his pulse and make sure he wasn't bleeding or anything of the sort.

"I...I would still feel much better if we took him to the hospital. He hit his head. He may very well have internal injuries."

As she leaned over him, the lump where he'd hit his head looked smaller. Alexa reached forward, her hand shook as she felt gingerly with her fingertips. The bump was almost gone.

"Is there someone you need to call, to let them know you are alright?"

Alexa turned her head to respond but couldn't tear her gaze away from Dane. "No. It's just me. No one's expecting me."

"Okay then. Why don't I go fix you something to eat? Or a cup of tea? Coffee?"

"That sounds fine."

It was settled. She was staying. Even if they had insisted Dane was fine and she could go, Alexa wasn't going anywhere until he opened his eyes again. She'd made a promise to him and she intended to keep it.

CHAPTER 4

Alexa was aware she was asleep but after the adrenaline rush of the night, she was so exhausted she couldn't pull herself out of the dream.

She stood on the walkway outside Dane's house and knocked on the door. When no one answered, she knocked again, but unable to just stand there and wait, she put her hand on the doorknob and slowly, quietly turned. It was unlocked.

She eased the door open. Alarm bells went off in her head. Most of the house was dark except for a fire in the parlour and a few oil lamps scattered around various rooms. She went as far as the foyer then stopped, held her breath, and waited. The house was silent, yet she didn't feel particularly afraid for her safety. It was Dane she was worried about.

The moment she thought his name -- Dane -- flashes of his face contorted in pain took over her vision and she couldn't control herself anymore. She felt willed upstairs, and unable to stop herself, went immediately to the staircase.

Up....up she climbed up a never-ending staircase. The further she went, the darker the corridor became.

When she finally reached the top of the staircase, she followed a faint glow of light that led up a long hallway to a half-opened door at the end.

At the top of the stairs, she paused again and waited for a sign. When she felt drawn back down the hall to his study, she obeyed.

The walls were lined with countless oversized paintings of various exotic locales. She felt herself drawn to a half-opened door at the end of the hallway.

For a moment, Alexa wondered if she was back at home, still dreaming. She didn't seem to have any independent thought, no fear, only a wanting, a yearning to find him, to see him again, to simply look into his eyes to make sure he was okay.

As she went, she could feel all her senses percolating, as though she could sense exactly where Dane was. She stopped in front of a closed door, and pushed the door open. At first it was almost completely dark but as the dim light from the oil lantern in the hallway seeped into the room, she could make out a dark figure to one side.

She stood there and waited for her eyes to adjust. When they did, she saw a man laying on his side on a chaise lounge over to one side. Slow and languid breaths came from him before he rose up slowly and sighed sensually as he tilted his head back. It was Dane, she could see his face now and for some reason, before she could even see him fully, she made a small gasping sound.

Dane spun around, his emerald eyes seemed to glow in the dark as he spotted her. Alexa could just barely make out his face. He stood and turned to face her. She saw that there was someone else there with him.

He didn't say anything, only gave her a slow, languid smile with those perfect lips, before he turned his back to her once again. Unable to stop her dream-self, Alexa watched herself move toward Dane. She could see him fully now.

He was naked from the waist down and he leaned over the body of a female who was completely naked. Alexa's body throbbed in response. The woman's backside was turned to him, and she had one arm reaching up and around Dane, her fingers tangled in his hair. All of a sudden, she gasped, arching her back as Dane chuckled deeply, running his hand down her side and cupping her breast.

In the dream, Alexa tried to tell her dream-self to turn around, to run, to get the hell out of there, but she couldn't stop herself. She took a few steps forward, watching as Dane and the mysterious woman writhed together, their bodies moving in unison, the woman's cries piercing the night.

Unable to look away, Alexa moved around the couple and with the fire behind her now, she could see them more clearly.

Dane's mouth clamped on the woman's neck, a trickle of blood slowly dripped down her neck, following a trail to her breast. She noticed Alexa standing there and Alexa realized she was staring at a smiling version of herself.

She gasped, immediately waking herself, and bolted up from the chair she'd fallen asleep in. It took her a few moments to realize where she was, but when she saw the four-poster bed and smelled the musky cologne, she knew she was still in Dane's room.

Immediately, her gaze flew to the bed. She exhaled deeply and clutched her hand to her chest. Her skin felt flushed, her heart raced. She touched her neck and swore it felt tender to the touch. She'd been dreaming, that's all. It was just a dream.

Thank god he's still asleep
, she thought to herself. But...what did the dream mean? He wasn't a...no, she told herself. It was just some strange dream, residual stress from the day putting strange images into her head.

She stretched her stress-strained muscles before going over to the bed to check on Dane. He slept soundly, his chest rising and falling slowly.

Alexa moved away from him, making sure he didn't stir before she turned and moved around the room.

As she tried to slow her breath, she blushed and smiled to herself at the racy dream she'd just had.

She knew it was kind of bad form, to snoop through someone's house like this, but she didn't care. James had insisted Alexa come with them to help Dane, so she felt like they wouldn't mind if she made herself at home.

She was drawn to his dresser, where a number of bottle of cologne stood in a row. She lifted one to her nose and closed her eyes and inhaled the musky scent. Right away, she had a vision of Dane as he walked through a darkened forest, his blonde hair flowed softly in the breeze, his green eyes pierced the darkness, entrancing her.

Her eyes flew open and she placed the bottle back down as quietly as she could before she slid her fingers along the dark wood to a small wooden chest. She lifted the lid quietly. Inside, there were a number of pieces of gorgeous jewelry, but one necklace in particular captured her attention.

She lifted it delicately and held it up to examine it. It was an intricate metal piece surrounding a large ruby gemstone in the center. A faceted crimson teardrop jewel dangled from the frame. She held it up and turned it slowly in the light. The firelight from the fireplace caught and reflected the jewel across her chest.