Billionaire Romance: Spencer's Obsession (A Seductive Alpha Billionaire Romance Book 1) (7 page)

              I made my way slowly down the wooden stairs, my heels clacking daintily with each step. About half way, I got up the courage to lift my gaze. As soon as I did, Spencer's sultry eyes locked onto mine and wouldn't let go. He let out an audible gasp at the sight of me, sending volts of electricity through my body.

              I nearly fell the rest of the way down the stairs from the shock of his gaze. “Oh, Emily. You look absolutely gorgeous,” he whispered as he came over to the bottom step to grab my hand and help me down. Then, he took my hand in his gently and brought it up to his lips, kissing me ever so softly on my bare skin. I had never felt an act that was so innocent, feel so sensual. Honestly, I wanted him to take me right then and there. Forget Bridget, forget what had happened earlier, I just wanted to be his. But unfortunately it didn't look like that was going to happen.

              I smiled up at him, because even though I was wearing heels, his height was still quite staggering over me. “Thank you,” I said sweetly.

              “Alright you two lovebirds. Get outta here before you make me sick,” Bridget teased as she came over and gave me a quick hug. “Have fun, okay?” she winked at me. “And you,” she pointed at Spencer. “Don't you dare hurt my girl.”

              “I wouldn't dream of it,” Spencer crooned as he bent down and kissed Bridget's cheek. “I'll try to have her back at a reasonable hour,” he joked.

              “Bye, Bridge,” I called out, waving before I shut the door behind us. She was already halfway up the stairs, probably planning a night out of her own. That girl couldn't stand being at home, unlike me, who relished any moment I could get to be in sweatpants and an old t-shirt camped out on the couch.

              “You know, you don't look so bad yourself,” I winked at Spencer. He smiled back at me with a hint of…was that embarrassment I saw? Was Spencer Ford really flattered by my compliment?

              He continued walking me down the sidewalk to the car that awaited at the curb. It was not the sporty, sleek one he had driven me home from the hospital in, but rather a fancy Rolls-Royce town car complete with its own driver. I had to literally pinch myself, because this didn't seem like the real world anymore. Who has their own driver and multiple luxury cars? Oh, right: Spencer Ford.

              “What are you doing, silly girl?” Spencer asked, bumping me with his shoulder.

              “Well...” I blushed, embarrassed that I'd been caught doing something so childish. “I was just pinching myself, to make sure that I wasn't dreaming.”

              He laughed out loud, his head tipping back in amusement and said, “You're too much, Emily Anne,” as he touched me gently under my chin. Spencer always knew just what to say or just the right way to touch me to make me feel special. “After you, my dear,” he bowed as he opened the car door for me.

              I gaped, mouth wide open, at the car on display in front of me. My uncultured side was showing, but I couldn't help it: I'd never seen a car so fancy in my entire life. Except for in the movies maybe, like
James Bond
. I stepped in as gingerly and gracefully as I could. The entire interior was covered in a rich, caramel colored leather and it smelled magnificent. I looked around in amazement, taking it all in and noticed that above us there was a huge sunroof that offered a stunning view of the sky. “Wooow,” I whispered as I stared up at the clouds blowing past.

              Spencer climbed in beside me, closing the door behind him. He laughed at my expression—apparently my cluelessness was amusing to him. “You're too adorable,” he said in admiration.

              “If you say so,” I said, smiling back at him like a child that had just earned a gold star.

              He touched my cheek and bit his lip, as if he wanted to say something, but then he thought better of it and simply turned to his driver and said, “Please take us to Il Tramonto, Oliver.”

              Without a word, Oliver nodded and pulled away from the curb. Spencer made being rich look so easy and effortless and I had to admit it was nice basking in the glow of all this luxury. It definitely wasn't something I was used to, but it was growing on me.

              I sighed and said, “Il Tramonto, huh?”

              “Yes, you've heard of it?” he asked expectantly, his eyebrows raised.

              “No, not really. Wing City is more my scene,” I confessed.

              “Wing City?” he asked, a look of pure amusement on his face. “No way. That was my
place
back in the day.”

              “Seriously?
You
used to eat at DubC?” I replied, unable to hide my disbelief.

              “Of course. Their Zingin’ wingz were the bomb,” Spencer proclaimed.

              “Wow. I had no idea you were such a wing ethusiast.  A man after my own heart,” I laughed. “We are definitely going to have to go there sometime. Like, seriously. Although, I’m surprised you’d be seen in such an establishment,” I gushed, “considering it's not very
fancy
.”

              “Hey now! I don't always eat “fancy” food. Besides, I wasn’t always a billionaire, you know?” he grinned flirtatiously at me and leaned over to tickle my ribs.

              I doubled over in laughter and squirmed at his touch. Tickling was one of my weaknesses and I quickly became out of breath from fighting him, which only caused him to do it more. Finally I gasped, “Okay, okay! You win,” with a laugh.

              “Alright, then. That's what I like to hear,” Spencer winked at me, leaning back in the plush leather seat of the town car. I had never been inside such a fancy car or eaten at such a nice restaurant and it really was hard to imagine that all of this was real. However, my pinch from earlier reminded me that it definitely wasn't a dream. I smiled to myself and stared out the darkly tinted windows at the cascading cliffs below, the ocean waves lapping and crashing against the edges of the rock. It seemed almost sensual the more I stared, and I couldn't get over the fact that I was here, right now. On any other night of the week I would have been slumming around the house in sweat pants and here I was in a ball gown on my way to a five star restaurant with a handsome billionaire. Had I died and gone to heaven?

              Spencer nudged me gently with his elbow and angled his face to look at me, concern in his eyes. “What are you thinking about, beautiful?” he asked, seeming genuinely interested.

              I turned to look at him and gave him a small smile, the corners of my lips turning up slightly. “I was just thinking...that this must be heaven.”

              He laughed softly, “What do you mean?”

              “It's just...I've never felt so lucky or content in my entire life. I just can't believe I'm here with you, in this moment in such a beautiful place in time,” I concluded as I bravely took his hand in mine and caressed it gently with my thumb.

              He continued to look at me with that signature look of his—filled with depth and desire—and slowly, so excruciatingly slowly he leaned in to kiss me. His lips caressed mine and they were so velvety and luscious I couldn't believe they weren't rose petals. And then, when I thought that the kiss couldn't get any better, our tongues met once more like they had the night before and everything just felt like it shifted into place—like this was where I had belonged all along.

              I felt Spencer's hand caress my cheek, so warm and comforting and I moaned into his mouth, “Oh, Spencer. I want you so badly.”

              I felt him smile, so wide that all his perfect teeth showed and he said softly, “I want that too, Emily. It's all I've been thinking about since last night. But you know, I do have these dinner reservations for us. As much as I'd love to just skip it altogether, I need to ensure that you're well nourished for the night ahead.” His forwardness sent shivers through my body and I couldn't wait to find out what he meant—what he had in store for me. When I was with Spencer, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. All of my problems didn't seem so big and what had happened this morning felt erased in his presence. As if it had all been a bad dream.
Yes, maybe that's all it was. Just a bad dream,
I thought to myself.

              I heard someone clear their throat and that's when I remembered: Oliver.
Oh, my God!
He'd just witnessed our heavy make out session. A blush crept up my cheeks and I looked at Spencer. We both started laughing like hyenas and I fell down into the seat and covered my face.

              “It's alright, dear. He's seen much worse. Haven't you, Ollie?” Spencer teased. And although it was in good fun I couldn't help but think about those
other
women-for-hire that Spencer had had before me. How many had sat right where I was sitting, feeling the way I was feeling? I felt foolish for thinking that I was special and my lighthearted and giddy mood quickly faded.

              “We have arrived, sir,” Oliver replied, seemingly unfazed by the whole situation.

              Inside the restaurant we were greeted by the maitre d’, who knew Spencer by name and seemed genuinely pleased to see him.

              “Aaah, Monsieur Ford. We've been expecting you. We have your usual space set up. Right this way, please,” he said with a thick French accent, which seemed somewhat ironic since we were at an authentic
Italian
restaurant in Crystal Cove. Somehow, though, it only added to the charm of the whole experience.

              As we trailed behind the maitre d’, I whispered over my shoulder to Spencer, “Your
usual
space? You're a regular here?” I pressed, still unsettled by what he had said in the car to Oliver. I couldn't help but feel like just a number.

              Spencer gave a disapproving and tight-lipped look, then shook his head slightly. Apparently he didn't want to talk about it.

              The maitre d’ led us to a quaint and cozy room in the back of the restaurant that looked like it had been made just for us. It was a quiet space that was dimly lit by a stone fireplace and the glow of fifty plus candles placed strategically around the room. It was absolutely beautiful.

              Spencer showed me over to a cozy table that was surrounded by a halo of  candlelight. I sat as gracefully as possible on the edge of my seat and then slid the rest of the way back, careful not to snag the delicate fabric of my dress.

              After helping me get seated, Spencer sat down across from me and the maitre d’ gave a nod, “Monsieur Ford. Mademoiselle. Please enjoy your meals.”

              “Thank you, Gregoire,” Spencer replied. And with that, Gregoire was gone.

              Spencer's mood seemed different since we had been seated and I felt like maybe it had something to do with my questions a few moments before. I was too afraid to ask, so I simply buried my head in the menu and tried to pretend like this was totally normal for me and that I knew what everything meant.

              After several minutes, I glanced up from my menu to peek at Spencer. He was studying the menu as well, not making any eye contact. I frowned and gave out a small involuntary sigh.

              “Yes?” he snapped. “Is there something else you'd like to say?”

              I felt taken aback by the harshness in his voice. He was usually so sweet and lighthearted that this side of him came as a shock. “I'm sorry. I wasn't aware that I couldn't ask you any questions,” I said defensively.

              “I don't appreciate being questioned like that in public, Emily. And I won't have it. There is a time and place for everything, but you crossed a line,” he said sternly.

              His words stung. I felt like a child being whipped into submission and I could feel a blush creep up my neck to my cheeks. I didn't want him to see how much he'd hurt me, so I hung my head and placed the menu back up in front of my face, fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

              “Emily, please,” he said, gentler this time. “Talk to me,” he urged as he pulled the menu from my hands and laid it on the table. “I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that...I'm a grown man. And you're going to have to get used to the fact that I have certain needs that, up until you, were fulfilled in a manner that was less than ideal. It doesn't mean that I don't care about or value you. But if we're going to be together you need to let go of these insecurities and realize that I'm a man of power and I have a reputation that you must respect at all times,” he said as he reached over to touch under my chin. “Please look at me, beautiful.”

              I blushed at his comment and tried to hide the small smile that was forming on my lips, but it was no use: he'd seen it.

              “There she is. There's my girl,” Spencer beamed as he touched my cheek. I couldn't fight it anymore: I had to look up at him, into those gorgeous blue eyes that still held me under their spell.

              “I'm sorry,” I said simply. And I really meant it. I realized that this was something that I was just going to have to get over. That is, if I wanted to be with Spencer. And I did. I most definitely did.

*****

              After nearly two hours of course after course of delicious Italian food, dinner was finally coming to a close. As much as I didn't want this moment to end, I knew that it was inevitable because there was no way I could keep eating without feeling miserable.

              “So was the night everything you'd hoped and more?” Spencer joked.

              “Oh yes. Definitely more. Although, I'm looking forward to seeing the Ford Mansion,” I teased, winking at him from across the table. The candlelight glow really had a way of making Spencer look even more powerful and I had to admit it turned me on to think about him taking me right here and now. Just ripping the tablecloth and all the dishes off the table and fucking me on top of it, not caring who saw. Mmm. All of my worries from earlier in the day had vanished and I couldn't wait to find out what it would feel like to experience every inch of Spencer Ford.

              “Pardon the interruption, but I just had to come over and say hello,” I heard an oddly familiar voice to my left interrupting my daydream.

              “Oh, my goodness! Cal? What the hell are you doing here, bro?” Spencer boomed, sounding truly elated to be reunited with whoever this guy was.

              Spencer got up and pulled him into a tight, one-armed hug—you know, the typical “guy hug” gesture. As he did, I scanned this
Cal
guy up and down. He was the classic All-American type of handsome, much like Spencer—as if maybe he did modeling in his spare time, but his hair was slightly darker than Spencer's and he was a few inches shorter. My assessment of the mystery man came to an abrupt halt when I realized both he and Spencer were staring right at me. Okay, I officially felt like a creep.

              “Huh?” I asked, blushing slightly at being caught in my thoughts.

              They both laughed at my spaciness and Spencer repeated, “Emily, this is my younger brother Calvin. He flew in from Chicago to visit. He was just getting dinner with some friends here when he saw us. Crazy, right?”

              Spencer seemed ecstatic to be reunited with his brother, but I had to admit I was a little shocked: he had never even mentioned his family, let alone that he had a brother. I kind of just assumed he was alone in the world.

              “Hello, it's nice to meet you,” I said, standing to shake his hand. But before I knew what was happening, Calvin had pulled me into a full-on hug. “Oh, okay!”

              They both laughed and Calvin said, “I'm sorry. I couldn't simply shake your hand. My bro has told me so much about you and I feel like you're already part of the family. Please forgive me,” he said flashing me a smile that matched Spencer’s.

              I glanced at Spencer and he nudged Calvin in the ribs. I couldn't believe he'd told Calvin all about me, but yet I'd never heard a single word about any of his family members. I wasn't sure whether or not I should feel flattered or upset.

              “Wow, well. I hope it was all good,” I said, stupidly.

              “Oh, it definitely was. That's why I had to come visit. I had to see you in the flesh, for myself,” he said, staring into my eyes the way that Spencer did.

              “Hey now!” Spencer said, ribbing Calvin with his elbow. “Don't forget she's mine. I know I'm old and all, but I saw her first. Seniority rules.”

              I felt a swell of pride as Spencer staked his claim over me. It felt good to know that I meant so much to him. At the same time, though, I couldn't help but feel uneasy in Calvin's presence. There was just something about him that didn't seem right—something dark in his gaze that made me feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. As if he already knew more about me than Spencer did and it gave me goosebumps.

              “Are you cold, darling?” Spencer asked, concerned.

              I nodded meekly, avoiding eye contact with Calvin.

              Spencer rubbed his palms up and down my bare arms and kissed the top of my head, lovingly. Then, he took his jacket off and placed it over my shoulders. “Is that better?”

              I smiled at him and nodded and in that moment I felt so lucky to have him in my life, “Yes, thank you,” I said softly. I glanced out of the corner of my eye at Calvin and there was something menacing in his eyes—like he knew something that we didn't and it satisfied him. I stood on my tiptoes and whispered in Spencer's ear, “Can we go?”

              He looked at me, a look of concern crossing his face and said, “Of course. Of course we can.”

              Spencer turned to Calvin and said, “My brother, it was very good seeing you. As always. Do come by the house or the office when you get the chance and we can set up a golf day, eh?” he said as he pulled Calvin in for one last hug.

              “For sure. I actually stopped by the office today, but your receptionist said you were out on business,” Calvin replied casually as he looked at me, gauging my reaction.

              A feeling of dread came over me and I suddenly felt sick.
No. No, no no. It couldn't have been…

             
The look on my face must have been the reaction he had been going for because he contorted his mouth into a cruel smile and then said, “Alright. Well, I'll let you two get on with your romantic evening. I really should get back to my friends anyhow,” he gestured behind him, but I didn't see a group that looked like they were missing him at all.

              As Spencer guided me towards the entrance of the restaurant, Calvin called out, “You take care of her now, Spencer.” And I couldn't help but feel like maybe that was a threat.