LOVE AND HATE (A Billionaire Romance) (35 page)

“How can you be a virgin when you’ve been with another man?” he asked, holding her close to him.

Claire’s heart beat faster. She had hoped he wouldn’t notice. Chance was determined to come after her, and she figured that knowing he was her first would make him even more determined, something she wasn’t yet sure she wanted. One day of fun was fine, but she wasn’t ready to make a commitment to a man, at least not the way Chance wanted.

“How do you know?”

“You don’t think I know a virgin?” he said, smiling. “If you must know, your pussy was so tight…”

“Chance! That’s vulgar, but I like it.”

“Well, I can talk dirty sometimes. So how come you’ve never had sex?”

Claire was silent. “Well, I just hadn’t found the right man.”

Chance didn’t say a word, and Claire imagined all the things that were running through his mind. Oh, gosh. He’d assume he was the right man.

“And I guess you were saving yourself?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said

“So I am the right man?” Chance asked, tracing his hand on her stomach.

“I don’t know yet. We’ll see,” Claire said, trying to get up from the bed, but he pulled her back toward him.

“You’re not going anywhere. I want you here, right next to me.” Claire fell back into bed with him, happy to be right next to him. “Claire, thank you,” he simply said. “You won’t regret it.”

Claire nodded, understanding that he was thanking her for giving her virginity to him. “I wanted to.”

“You mean you planned to seduce me today?” Chance asked, laughing.

“You’re crazy, Chance! You know that?” she said as she kissed him on the lips. He kissed her back, and in seconds, his hands started wandering over her body again.

“This is the best day ever,” he said. “And it’s only just begun.”

“So then, what else did you have planned for me today?” she asked him. “Apart from this.”

“I didn’t plan this; it never crossed my mind this would happen,” he said, staring at the ceiling.

“Really?

“Okay, I had my hopes up,” he told her with a smile before kissing her on the forehead. “We can check out some of the local areas if you like. I’ve been here before so I know some of the places offhand.”

“Must you always brag?” she asked as she stood to get dressed.

“It comes with the territory.” He flashed his dimples. “I am the heir to the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company, so I do get around. Of course, it’s not always for fun.”

“So, you always get women into your bed by telling them about your adventures and taking them onto your yacht?” she teased.

“No. Sometimes I just throw money at them,” he laughed. “And trust me, it always works. “

Claire couldn’t help laughing too, though somewhere deep down she knew he probably got women into his bed by those very means. And she wondered if she was now another conquest.

“No, you’re not,” he responded as if he had read her mind.

“What?” she asked.

“I don’t normally bring women onto this yacht,” he answered. “I could tell you were thinking that.”

“So you’re a mind reader.”

“Not just any mind. Yours,” he said as held his hand out for her. “Ready?”

Chance was no less of a gentleman as they toured St. Lucia. Claire could tell he had been there several times and might as well have been her private local guide. When they got hungry for lunch, they stopped at a seafood spot; he told her to order the steamed fish in curry and coconut sauce. She had initially hesitated, but when she tasted it, she wiped the plate clean.

They toured the coast, stopping at the local farmers’ market as well as the craft store, and Claire felt like a queen next to him. She was determined to live in the moment, aware of the fact that this was another world and she couldn’t get attached to it.

By the time they made it back to the hotel, they were both tired. Chance stood outside her door, leaning against it and beckoning her to kiss him. Claire did kiss him, but instead of staying in the hallway, Chance stepped inside and kicked the door shut. He led her to the bed, and in minutes, he was thrusting into her, faster and harder than last time, both of them moaning and groaning their heart’s pleasure. They orgasmed simultaneously and fell asleep right after. The last sound Claire heard was his light snore next to her, and a smile curved her lips as she closed her eyes and dreamed of the perfect day she had shared with him.

CHAPTER 12

The next morning, Amy’s banging on the door woke Claire up. Chance flew out of bed, unsure what to do.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “It’s just Amy.”

“She’s persistent,” he mumbled as he looked around for somewhere to hide.

Claire cracked the door and stuck her head out. “Yes?”

“Claire, I’m sorry for abandoning you the last few days or so, but Mario and I have been having so much fun, and I know how much Chance wanted you more than me, so I thought…” she paused when she saw Claire mouthing shut up to her. “What?” she asked as she tried to look past her.

“Sshh,” Claire said.

“Is he? He is!” she screamed and tried to push past Claire.

“Amy, get away from my door,” Claire said and pushed her away gently.

“Wait, so how about a double date? Mario and I were going on a little hiking expedition.”

“Goodbye, Amy,” Claire laughed and closed the door.

“Hiking might not be too bad,” Chance laughed too when she finally got the door closed. “I didn’t make an itinerary for today.”

“Hiking? Ugh! I don’t think I’m ready for that,” she said, and fell back against the bed.

He smiled and hovered over her. “There is a lot to see in the parks and gardens here.”

“I guess,” she said. “Fine. I’ll go over to her room and make final plans, then.”

“And in the meantime, I need to take a shower,” he said. “Though I hate to wash the smell of you off me.”

“Go wash up, you slacker,” Claire said as she raised on her tip toes and kissed him. “I need to shower as well.”

“Okay, see you in a little while. If I take too long, you know where I am.” He grinned as he walked out.

Claire fell back on the bed with the pillow on her chest, feeling light and blissful. If she had known she would feel this good, she would have listened to Amy’s coaxing on Chance’s island. But when she rolled over and allowed her thoughts to probe the future, the smile completely disappeared. What reason did she have to hope he would return with her to Miami? He was wealthy and had girls chasing him all over the world. And he had already conquered her, so what was left besides the rest of her vacation? And his? She was still deep in thought and dragging herself around the room when Amy returned.

“Knock, knock,” her best friend said as she burst inside. “I can see he isn’t here or the door wouldn’t be open.” Claire smiled at her. “So, you sneak.” She walked over to knock Claire on the shoulder. “You have been seeing him the whole time.”

“Not the whole time; you and Mom left me with nothing to do. Chance was there, so I passed the time with him,” Claire blushed.

“Passed the time? Hmm, I’ve never heard it called that before,” she laughed.

“Knock it off, Ames,” she laughed. “This is just for a time. We go home in three days, and Chance and Mario will be no more.”

“Maybe Mario won’t be, but why not Chance? The man has money coming out his ears. He even has his own private island. What’s to stop him from coming to you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe all the other women who have his attention,” Claire reminded her.

“Claire, he wants you for a reason, and that’s because you aren’t anything like those whores chasing him,” Amy told her.

“You mean like you?” Claire teased.

“Yeah, like me,” Amy laughed. “But I came around to invite you guys to hang out with us.”

“I was just about to come up to your room.”

“Mario is coming by in another…” she paused to look at her watch, “half hour, so get ready.”

“I don’t have a choice, right?”

“Not really. But please get lover boy,” she winked and backtracked to the door.

Claire tossed the pillow at her, but she desperately wanted Amy to be right. She was still smiling at the thought of Chance coming after her when he knocked on her door. She had a bright smile for him.

“Don’t tell me I caused that,” he said.

“Caused what?”

“Your smile,” he laughed.

“You did,” she said. “Amy and her guy are waiting for us.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Amy!” she called from the hallway. “You’re late.”

Amy opened the door. “Well, hello,” she said when she saw Chance.

Chance smiled and nodded at her. “Hi, Amy.”

“Ok. Well, let’s go,” she said. “Mario’s waiting in the lobby.”

Mario turned out to be quite a handsome islander with a body crafted in the gym; he had muscles bulging from every inch of him, and Claire found it hard not to giggle. “Just your type,” she whispered to Amy. Amy punched her gently on the shoulder, and the men looked on as they shared their private moment.

“Oh, my apologies,” Amy said. “Claire, Chance, this is Mario. Mario, Claire and Chance.”

“Nice to meet you both,” he said and reached out to shake Claire’s hand. She was surprised at how soft it was; it didn’t match his outward appearance.

“Okay, let’s go! I’m excited,” Amy said. She stopped walking and turned to the group. “Which car are we going in?”

“Mine is fine,” Chance smiled.

The group made a stop at the tour company that would lead them to the Gros Piton hike, one of St. Lucia’s volcanic mountain trails. It wasn’t hard to convince Claire to experience the mud baths after all the complaining she did along the trail. They had to stop several times to wait for her to catch her breath. They spent most of the day sightseeing along the trail, and by the time they decided to go back, it was evening.

“There is a bonfire party on the beach tonight,” Mario told them when they returned to the hotel. “You’ll love it.”

“Count me in,” Amy said.

“Me too,” Claire added. “As long as it doesn’t involve walking.”

They all laughed when she spoke and agreed to shower and return to the beach.

***

The bonfire was just what Claire needed to get closer to Chance. She enjoyed his embrace as they watched the locals play games and dance around the fire, yanking the tourists from their perches to join them in several line dances. Towards the end of the party, she snuggled next to Chance, and he wrapped his arms around her as the air grew chilly.

“Would you care for a walk?” he asked her.

“Sure.”

He held her hand as they walked along the seashore, saying nothing and doing nothing other than enjoying each other’s company and feeling the splash of the waves on their skin. Chance brought her to a stop, turned her to him, and planted a hot, wet kiss on her lips. He pulled her to him and drank her in, and she could feel the need in his kiss. As he held her, Claire felt a sudden confidence that he wouldn’t let her go, and she clung to him and received him like never before.

“I’ve wanted to do that all day,” he told her.

“I’ve wanted you to,” she smiled back.

He put his arm around her waist and led her back to the others. Amy was just about ready to leave; she held Mario’s hand as the four of them returned to the hotel.

At the elevator, Claire heard someone calling to her excitedly. “That’s my mom,” Claire said as she stopped and waited, planting a smile on her face as her mother approached them. A man walked behind her, and for the first time Claire officially met her mother’s mysterious man.

“Claire, I’d like you to meet Bryan,” Willow said.

“I’ve met him before. Though not officially,” she smiled. “Back on the island.”

“Okay, that’s good. It will make this a whole lot easier,” Willow said, glowing when she turned to the man.

“Make what easier?” Claire asked, looking at her mother suspiciously. She didn’t like the tone of her voice.

“Bryan and I got married this afternoon,” she glowed.

“You what?” Claire asked, looking from her mother to Bryan and then Chance. Amy and Mario slipped away.

“Dad?” Chance asked. “You did what?”

Willow turned to Bryan. “This is Chance?”

“Yes,” Bryan said. “This is Chance, my son. And this must be Claire.”

“Yes,” Willow said simply. “This is my daughter.”

Claire looked at her mother, unable to formulate the words she needed to express her feelings. She wanted her mom to be happy and finding a man who made her happy like Bryan was her dream for her mother. But Bryan was Chance’s dad, and she had just given her virginity to Chance. What are the odds that the one man who made her forget Trent had just become her stepbrother? No one had even bothered consulting her.

“Mom, you know Chance and I are seeing each other, right?”

Willow’s eyes flew open and Bryan looked at the younger kids and then to Willow.