Billionaire Games (11 page)

T
he next morning
, afternoon, really, Claire stared down at the bed and then looked back to Simeon. His expression was almost grim, but there was a light in his eyes that she couldn’t miss.

“What’s that?” Claire asked, again glancing at the scraps of fabric Simeon held.

“You’re adorable when you’re suspicious, rich girl,” he said.

She tilted her head. “Claire. And should I be suspicious?” she asked.

“Nope. There’s no mystery here,” he said, moving toward her purposefully.

“So what
is
that?” she repeated, still staring down at the bed.

“Your wardrobe for the week,” he said nonchalantly.

Claire felt her eyes bug out as she stared at Simeon wildly. And the jerk had the nerve to smile. She huffed at him, which only made him laugh.

“It’s not poison, Claire,” he said as he came to stand behind her.

For the first time, his hard body against hers, the little tremor that went through her where they touched was not at the forefront of her mind.

“No. It’s not poison. It’s a
bikini
!” she exclaimed.

He laughed again, and Claire slapped at his chest, though she kept her eyes on the bathing suit.

“We’re on a beach. Swimwear seemed appropriate,” he said, his voice rasping against her skin.

“Swimwear. Yes, this…”

“Is perfect,” he said.

Then, body folding over hers, he reached for the bikini top and laid it against her. She responded to his touch without thought, though it didn’t fully distract her. The bikini was the same color as her goddess dress, the deep gold surprisingly complementary to her skin tone. Too bad there wasn’t enough of it to cover her body.

“Simeon,” she said, turning to him. “It’s lovely for someone else, but I-I can’t—”

“You can. And you will,” he firmly.

“But there’s barely anything…”

“Too much if you ask me,” he said.

As he spoke, he pulled the T-shirt she had only recently put on up and over her head. Then he looped the tied neck of the bikini top over her head and pulled it into place. He paused long enough to tie the back and then stared at her.

Claire didn’t have the nerve to look down. She couldn’t imagine how she must look. This bathing suit, part of a bathing suit in Claire’s opinion, wasn’t right for her. There was too much of her and too little of it for the pairing to work, and though she’d again gotten used to Simeon seeing her, she wasn’t brave enough to imagine wearing such a thing in public.

“I couldn’t wait to see you in this. See how the top stretched over your tits. I picked it for that reason, and it’s just like I imagined. The bottom is going to do the same to that sweet ass of yours, assuming I let you put it on,” he added.

Claire looked into Simeon’s eyes. He reached a hand up and brushed his thumb between her eyebrows. It was only when he did that Claire realized she frowned.

“You’re beautiful, Claire,” Simeon whispered, and he spoke the words with such deep, profound conviction that she almost believed.

But that wasn’t the source of her worries, or at least all of them.

“What?” he asked, moving his thumb from her brow to rub her cheekbone.

Claire was embarrassed at the direction her thoughts had taken, but when she looked at Simeon, who glared at her patiently, she gave voice to them.

“You’ve bought me lots of clothes,” she said.

“Not really. You don’t like that? Me buying you things?” he asked, and though she was watching him, she couldn’t tell whether he disapproved of that or not.

Claire gave him a small smile. “I’m…undecided,” she said, giving the itty-bitty bikini he held a slow, significant glance. “But…”

“But what, Claire?” Simeon said, his voice still steady, though Claire knew he was waiting on an answer.

She met his gaze and asked the question that had been at the back of her mind for weeks. “Do you always do that?” she asked.

“Do what?” he asked as he let his thumb brush her bottom lip.

Without stopping to think about it, Claire snaked her tongue from between her lips and scraped his thumb and then sucked the tip into her mouth, letting her tongue circle it before she let it go. Simeon exhaled hard and then lifted one corner of his lips, the lazy expression warming her.

“Do what?” he repeated, and for a moment, Claire wasn’t sure what he was talking about. She quickly remembered, though, and the brief passion of the moment relented, leaving only the embarrassment of the question she now wished she hadn’t asked.

But Simeon watched her, his gaze telling her that he would not drop the subject, so she forged ahead.

“The clothes. Do you buy clothes for your other…for the other women you…are involved with?” Claire said, not sure what else to call him and her and unwilling to think deeply enough to give a name to whatever happened between him and the other women he slept with.

Simeon’s expression changed, going much more serious than it had been only seconds ago. She shouldn’t have said anything, but there was nothing she could do now but wait and see how he would respond. And Simeon didn’t seem in any hurry to answer. He just watched, stroked his thumb against her lips, and Claire thought she might explode with the tension that grew inside her with each passing second.

When she thought she wouldn’t be able to withstand another second of silence, he finally spoke. “The other women? Do I buy clothes for other women?”

He went quiet and then waited, and Claire nodded. “Yes,” she said.

“No,” he replied instantly.

Claire was surprised by both the answer and the speed with which he spoke it. She was also surprised by the way the single word made her feel. Special, loved… She shut the stream of thought down quickly and then refocused on Simeon.

“You don’t?” she asked.

He lifted the corner of his mouth again. “Does that surprise you?”

“Yes,” she answered honestly.

Simeon lifted a brow and then shrugged. “I don’t. I’ve never cared what any of those other women have worn, and I’ve never cared enough to pick something out for them,” he said.

The seriousness on his face lifted as quickly as it had come, but Claire had seen it, and even more, she’d believed it, and she struggled mightily to clamp down the warmth that spread in her chest as he watched her. Simeon smiled again and then looked at the bikini.

“Ready to change, Claire?” he said, and she didn’t miss the significance of what he was saying.

He trailed his fingers down her shoulder, then her arm, and then dropped his hand to his side. He didn’t touch her, but his intense gaze was as good as a caress. She swallowed, her nerves being supplanted by the desire he stirred with a single look.

“I’m not sure…” she said.

He tucked his hands in the panties she had just put on and then pulled them down her thighs, taking his time as he worked them over her thighs. Then he grabbed the bikini bottoms and gestured for her to step into them. She did, and he worked them up, moving slowly, letting his fingers trace her skin. By the time he settled the bikini at her waist, she was almost squirming with need.

Simeon stood upright, towering over her, and then met her eyes.

“I’m sure,” he said.

And Claire believed him. When he looked at her like that she felt she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

“And where am I going in this?” she asked, her voice wavering with the emotion she tried to hold back.

He smiled. “The beach, of course.”

“
Y
ou tired
?” Simeon asked.

Claire stopped and looked back at him, and his heart clenched tight, squeezing the air out of his lungs. The bikini hugged her curves and the sun kissed her skin, only adding to her sexiness. But that wasn’t what got him. Yes, he could imagine tangling his hands in the thick, wet strands of her hair and holding her still as he fucked her. And he would, he decided, but that wasn’t what had captured his attention.

The smile of her face, the pure glee that lit her eyes did, though. He hadn’t felt this way in ages, hadn’t had a day like this in as long as he could remember, and it was all because of Claire. She lit his body afire and made his soul melt, and looking at her now, he wasn’t sure if he could ever let her go.

She nodded, and began walking toward him, the waves crashing against her legs.

“Yes,” she said when she reached him. “It’s been fun, but I’m a little tired.”

“Okay. Let’s head back,” he said.

Claire began to smile mischievously, and before Simeon knew what had happened, she smacked the water and splashed him. “Oh, wait, did I say now? I meant after one last water fight!”

A
bout an hour later
, Simeon had sent Claire to shower and change, and after he’d done the same, he went to the outdoor kitchen. The sun was beginning to set, and he knew Claire would enjoy having their evening meal outdoors as they watched the waves lap against the shore.

He hadn’t been consciously aware of it at the time, but this was yet another place he had acquired because he’d known she would like it. The chance to watch her face as she sat in the dimming sun, see the gentle smile that graced her lips and her content, peaceful expression as she watched the ocean, confirmed that the place had been more than worth its exorbitant price tag. He’d have to thank Nathaniel for the tip.

It was dangerous, though. Time was ticking, and the prospect of her again leaving his life because more real.

Yet again he reminded himself that he needed to keep his distance.

A struggle, especially at times like these, but he would nonetheless. His time with Claire was soon coming to an end, but unlike he’d planned for, prayed for, he was no less addicted to her, drawn to her, obsessed with her than he had been before. It may have gotten even worse.

“Heavy thoughts?” Claire asked as she came outside.

She wore a long dress he’d gotten for her and her hair hung free and loose down her back. He looked away from her, but then turned back. He wouldn’t run from anything, including Claire, but as he saw her soft expression, he tried to compare it to his and saw that where hers was soft, free, his was tense, tight, and he knew the weight of his thoughts was probably reflected on his face.

“None that matter. Food will be ready in a moment,” he said, trying to keep his voice perfectly modulated. Not happy to see her even though she’d only been gone for moments. Not eager to spend more time with her after they’d had hours together. Not wistful at the thought of parting from her soon. No, he tried to keep all of those thoughts out of his mind and his voice and focus on being here, now, with her.

He’d just stay centered, enjoy the time they had together, and trust that once it was done, he would have the satisfaction that he’d sought.

“Sit,” he said as he slid the steak and the grilled vegetables onto two plates.

He watched her as she sat, and his body again craved her even though he’d had her so many times before. Simeon had considered talking her on a night cruise, but he’d changed his mind and now knew what he had planned for this evening. Claire, under him, screaming her pleasure over and over and over again.

“Thank you,” she said as she took the offered plate from him.

“You’re welcome,” he said.

They sat on the sturdy rattan lounge chairs, and Simeon watched her as she took her first bite.

She smiled, nodded approvingly. “Not bad,” she said as she glanced over at him.

“Don’t pretend, Claire. Everything I do is much better than ‘not bad,’” he said.

She laughed. “Modest as always, huh, Simeon.” She glanced down at the plate and then looked at him again, her eyes beginning to sparkle. “I didn’t know billionaires still cooked for themselves,” she said.

He shrugged. “Most probably don’t. But I hate relying on other people for every little thing. I can take care of myself,” he said.

He glanced at her then, the significance of his words not becoming apparent until he looked at her. But after a moment, when her eyes lost some of their luster, she seemed to come to a decision, and again brightened. “Yeah. Nothing wrong with that. Thanks for dinner, Simeon,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” he said again.

They in silence, and then suddenly, Simeon turned to her, unable to keep quiet.

“After this, what are you going to do?” he asked, speaking the thought that had increasingly been on his mind. There was no reason to ask. In fact, he shouldn’t care, shouldn’t want to know. But the question had been insistent, pressing against his mind with increasing weight, and here, in this magic place so far away from anything he’d thought possible for himself, so far away from all that had passed between them, he decided there was no better time.

She shrugged, then continued to chew. Then she swallowed and took a sip of water. Simeon knew this was her way of thinking, puzzling out what to say next, and for a moment, he wondered if she would answer. He’d get an answer, because as she drew this response out, he needed to know even more.

“Well,” she finally said, looking over at him, “if the new owner of my company allows it, I’ll go back to work. I’ve been turning over my designs for those tiny houses and I think I have something special in mind.”

He chuckled. “I don’t understand that tiny house thing, but I’ve looked at your designs. You seem to be on to something. It’s smart and really thorough,” he said.

She smiled shyly. “You looked at my designs?” she asked.

He nodded. “I like to know everything there is to know about assets I’m acquiring,” he said.

Her smile dampened. “Oh. I guess that’s smart. Being a good investor or whatever,” she said.

“Yeah. And I was desperate to know everything about you. So desperate that I read floor plans,” he said.

Another confession he probably should have kept to himself, but he felt compelled to soften his words, to let her know it was more than ruthlessness that had driven him.

“Really?” she asked, looking surprised.

“Yeah,” he replied.

“Thanks,” she said, smiling briefly, before she stared him again.