Billionaire: Billionaire Romance: Billionaire Tiger (A Billionaire New Adult Shifter Contemporary Romance) (43 page)

That must have been a trigger because he stopped. By the abruptness I could tell that he didn’t stop because he was going to move to another section of my body, but because something was wrong. I opened my eyes. I was still propped on the wall with dress hiked up. He was standing a foot or two away from me on the path. He stared at me.

“What is it?” I asked my voice shaking with vulnerability.

Leonardo said nothing. He walked back to me, pulled my dress back into place and laced up the front. He picked me up off the wall and set me gently on my feet then said, “I’m sorry Eudora. This is wrong. I just couldn’t help myself. I’ve wanted you since the first time we talked, but I thought it would pass. You should go.”

He walked away from me. I stood there with my mouth agape. Was this really happening? He was leaving me here alone in his garden after we just shared an intimate moment together? It was absurd! It was wrong! It was, embarrassing. I fought back tears of rejection. I needed to keep it together. I could cry later. He stopped and turned his head over his shoulder slightly and said, “My carriage will take you wherever you need to go. Come back tomorrow and I will paint you. Just paint.” Then he continued walking away. He turned down another path and was out of sight. I quickly pulled my dress back into place and brushed my hair into place. I felt mortified. To top it off he still expected me to model for him. I guess I didn’t really have a choice at this point. I walked quickly toward the main house. I needed to get out of there.

I walked up the stairs to the larger portico veranda where the maid was waiting for me. She quietly said, “There’s a carriage outside for you Ms. I will get your coat for you. Follow me.”

I glued my eyes to the floor and followed her to the front door. In minutes I was in a carriage fighting back tears on my way back to my sister’s house. So many thoughts flooded my head. I didn’t know why he stopped. He said it was wrong, which I agreed with. However, I really doubted it was his first time doing that. He was obviously a playboy artist, and they usually did what they pleased. Including people.

The truth now however, was that I now had to model for this man. The carriage ride back into the city was excruciating. As soon as I got home I let the floodgates open and cried for hours.

CHAPTER THREE

The next day I once again made the excuse of calling on a friend and found myself at the grand estate of Leonardo’s patron. The maid took my coat and I was led into the conservatory.

Leonardo was already in there. My heart stopped when I saw him. He was just as gorgeous as ever. His long unruly hair strayed over his face like a wild man. He wore a cotton painter’s coat over clothes splattered with paint. He was setting up the area and intricately moving a chaise lounge into the right light. The conservatory room was a romantic one. There were spindly trees and English ivy all around. The furniture was of white iron that made leafy patterns and scrolls. The large candelabras were tall with white candles in place with wax that hung off them like tattered cloth. The rugs on the ground were a rich maroon color and a table was set up in the corner with fruit, cheese, bread, and wine in the most decadent fashion.

“Mr. Drivatti,” I said in a weak voice.

“Oh Ms. Sterling. Please help yourself to food and drink. I need to get this in the right light,” he said with out making eye contact with me.

I felt stung by his lack of attention to me. I had half expected him to run into my arms and apologize. I wanted him to beg my forgiveness and of course to declare his undying love for me. Instead, I was getting the cold shoulder, second to the art arrangements. I walked over to the table and nibbled on some bread but mostly I needed the wine to calm my nerves. I was grateful in a sense that he was ignoring me because it gave me a chance to stare at him. His strong jaw line and shadowy beard made him look menacing and dark. As if he was going to eat me at any second. His tight trousers hugged his thighs tightly and I tried to imagine what was between them. I was deep in thought staring at his figure when I heard.

“Ms. Sterling? Ms. Sterling!” he yelled.

I had not realized he was trying to get my attention because I was so lost in thought.

“Yes,” I said blushing as I realized I had been caught staring. He smiled at me as he made it a point to look down at his trousers where I had been staring. I looked away pretending to be interested in the room.

“There is a screen there. Your dress is behind it if you will change, please.”

“Change?” I said suddenly frightened that I needed to be naked near him. I didn’t know if I could control myself.

“Yes, certainly I can not paint you in your dress. It would not fit the scene.”

“Yes, of course,” I said feeling silly.

I walked around to the white screen and moved behind it. There was a rich maroon velvet dress with white pearls sewn into the fabric. It was very elegant and rich. It was beautiful.

“Do you need help?” he yelled.

“No! No, I am quite alright,” I yelled back frantically. I heard him chuckle at my nervousness. I quickly fumbled with the laces and buttons of my dress and then slipped on the maroon one. However, it buttoned up the back and not the front. I had no choice but to ask for help. I pulled the dress up my body as tight as I could and held it against me. I stepped out from behind the screen.

“I do need help after all. The buttons on the back, I can not reach them.”

He smiled and walked over to me. I looked up at him from under my dark lashes and pleaded with my eyes for him to touch me. He moved behind me slowly and then grabbed the dress. He slowly buttoned with his fingers trailing up my skin as he did. They were warm and I gasped at his first touch. He slid them purposefully touching the bare skin of my back with much liberty. I sighed and let out a moan. He stopped and then buttoned the rest of the buttons quickly. I felt offended.

“Done,” he said as he walked away. I turned to him with a flushed face, which he must have noticed. He smirked that arrogant grin that I had so become fond of, “Please will you sit on the chaise,” he motioned.

I put down my glass of wine and followed him to chair. I sat down. He moved over me, hovering just above me, staring down at me. My breathing drew faster and faster. He was staring at me so intently. Being a model was not going to be easy work, I realized, as I would have him intensely looking at me. How would I hide my lust for him? He reached down and grabbed the hair clip in my hair. I had goose bumps all over my body as he touched me. He was studying me. He shook my long dark hair out and placed it over my shoulders in just the way he wanted it.

“Good, this is good,” he said. “Now lean on your arm this way and bring your legs up here.”

I did as he asked and moved in the way he placed me. He took a few steps back and took it all in. I was trying not to breath fast and remain calm, but it was so hard. I had flashbacks of him licking me and sucking on my breasts. I wanted it again and again.

“Perfect, now just stay like that,” he said as he moved to his easel and canvas and began to sketch me in pencil on the canvas.

Now I relaxed a little. He was occupied and I was just the model. He was far away from me. However he was still staring at me like he was going to eat me. It was very unnerving.

Two weeks passed and this is how we spent our time. Little was said and I was a good obedient model. I never brought up what happened in the garden though I ached too. I wanted him to explain himself but I never said anything about it. Finally, I was sick of being silent and made light small talk.

“Your patron that lives in this estate, where is he again?” I asked as if I had forgotten.

“He is taking a tour of the continent for a few months as he does every year,” he said.

“When is he to return?” I asked.

“In a few days time.”

“How is the painting coming along? Can I finally see it today?” I asked him, as he had never permitted me to look at it.

Leonardo stepped back and looked at me. He sighed and said, “Very well,” as he put his brush and palette down and placed his hands on his hips.

“Now?” I asked.

“Yes, of course.”

I stood up and hesitantly walked over to him. He watched me closely as the maroon velvet dress rustled with every step. I came around to the front side of the canvas. I stopped and tears filled my eyes at the beauty before me. The unfinished painting was a masterpiece. He had captured my likeness exactly as I was, but more than that. I was glowing and beautiful in it. This was how he saw me.

“It’s beautiful. I am breathless,” I said in a whisper.

“You truly like it?” he asked moving closer to me.

“It is a masterpiece,” I said moving closer to it.

He came up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. He kissed my neck and whispered in my ear, “I want to fuck you Eudora. I can not take it anymore.”

His words caressed over me like honey. I moaned and moved my head to the side to allow him to kiss my neck more. Then he attacked the buttons on the dress down my back with fervor. In minutes he slipped it down my shoulders and down to the floor. I stood topless with my petticoat at my waist. He turned me to him and kissed me. His full lips pressed hard and aggressive against me. I kissed him back. I finally allowed myself to touch him. I ran my fingers through his thick curly hair and pulled on it. I had longed for this. I fumbled with the buttons on his shirt and tore it off of him and ran my hands down his strong bare chest with the soft black curls that covered it.

“Eudora I’ve wanted you for so long. It’s wrong what we’re doing is wrong,” he said.

“I don’t care anymore. Take me Leonardo. I want you inside of me.”

With that he picked me up. I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me to the chaise lounge and laid me down upon it. He stripped me of my petticoat skirt and then he pulled off his trousers. I gasped at the sight of him naked. I had never seen a man naked before. His cock was thick and long and perfectly pink. His thighs were strong and muscular and his stomach was rippled with muscles. He hovered over me and placed his cock inside of me and then with one thrust pushed it in. I felt my maidenhood give way and I clawed at his back.

“Are you alright Eudora?” he whispered.

“Yes, please don’t stop.”

He covered my mouth with his and pushed again inside of me. Back and forth he moved his cock in and out of me. I didn’t know the sensations could feel this way. I felt something inside of me building up but I did not know what it was. Leonardo moved his mouth down my neck and onto my breast. He licked at sucked at my rosy nipples until they were erect and taught. He moaned as his hands moved down the sides of my body. Each movement he pushed himself in me with his hips between my thighs. My back arched up in reaction to it and his arm encircled it, holding me up. I was on the brink. I could feel it welling up inside of me. Then my body tensed and relaxed as I released into pleasure that I was not expecting. I didn’t know it existed. Tiny pulsations ran through me and I felt on the verge of fainting. Leonardo looked down at me from his hovering height above me. His dark tendrils of hair hung over his face and moved back and forth with his thrusting movement. It was a sight I wanted to burn into my memory. He was the sexiest man I had ever seen in my life. His grunting grew louder as he tensed and he held onto me tighter. The chaise lounge moved an inch with each thrust as he moved more aggressively and harder. Then he let out a loud moan and I felt the warm fluid fill me as he released himself. He kissed me and then rested his head in my neck. I wrapped my arms around him. I never wanted to let go of this genius. He was the most romantic artist I had ever met. He had a hold over me. He looked at me and asked, “Are you alright sweet?”

“Yes, I think so,” I laughed.

“Why did you not tell me you were a virgin?” he asked.

My eyes grew wide as I felt confused, “I thought that you knew already.”

“No, I did not know. I assumed since you agreed to model for me that you were not. Then in the garden, you let me take advantage of you.”

I was in shock. Yes I knew all the things I had done were unlady-like behaviors, but this was an exception. It thought there was a connection between us and I could not stop myself if I wanted to. I let lust take over me. I couldn’t say anything to him except, “I understand.”

Leonardo looked upset. He pulled himself out of me and then began to pick up his clothes. He handed me the maroon dress and said, “Perhaps you should put your own clothes on. The carriage will be arriving soon.”

“Yes, thank you,” I said fighting back tears.

I wrapped the maroon dress around me and walked behind the screen to put my clothes on. I needed to get out of there and quick before I burst into tears and made a fool of myself. I quickly pulled on my dress and laced up the laces. I was dressed and pulled together. I pulled my hair back into a bun and came around the corner of the screen. Leonardo was gone from the room. I inhaled and took a deep breath and steadied my step. Then I heard loud voices. Just then Leonardo’s patron and owner of this grand estate Sir Conwith Holdsworth walked in with Leonardo trailing behind. He stopped in his tracks when he saw me. I felt like it was obvious what had just happened.

Leonardo remained cool and simply said, “And this is the model for the painting.”

“Yes, Ms. Eudora Sterling is it not?” Mr. Holdsworth said.

My eyes widened at him recognizing me and knowing who I was. I had never met this man before and I was astonished he knew who I was.

“I do business with your sister’s husband quiet frequently. I did not know he was a fan of the arts. I would think permitting you to model while under his roof something he would forbid.”

I panicked and started fumbling over my words. “Well, you see sir. It’s not that…”

Then I saw the look on his face change. Mr. Holdsworth looked at the chaise lounge. More rightly he looked at the spots of red blood on it. I had not noticed this before, but it made sense. I had lost my maidenhood and there was the evidence. Mr. Holdsworth looked at me then Leonardo in shock and disapproval.