One Night With the Billionaire: Book Three (5 page)

Of
course
it was. Kaia felt like she probably should’ve guessed that much. “I’d love to hear about them someday when you feel like sharing.”
 

Jason’s fingertips trail up and down Kaia’s spine, leaving a trail of tingling heat in their wake. “I’d like that,” he says. “If it’s okay, could we do that another day?”
 

Kaia nods. “Whenever you like.” She knows he’s been on an emotional roller coaster over the past couple of days. It isn’t pressing information for her to have; she can let this breathe, and ask him to share some other time. There are more questions she’d like to have answers to anyway, like what happened to his father’s company, and why didn’t Jason follow in his footsteps.
 

But she can wait for that. She wants to give him some time.
 

“Are you still up for coming with me to the fundraiser on Saturday?”
 

“Yes,” Kaia replies. “Why?”
 

“There’s someone coming that I’d like you to meet.”
 

Paul, Kaia, and Jason are standing in Jason’s kitchen early Saturday morning, steaming hot cups of coffee in their hands.
 

“We’re going to take you both through the back entrance, foregoing the red carpet and the photographers. I’ve got a few guys stationed throughout the ballroom to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, and we’re going to do our best to discourage photographs.”
 

Jason raises an eyebrow. “Do your best?”
 

Without missing a beat, Paul replies, “We can’t keep track of photos people take on their cell phones, Sir. Best I can do is give them a talking to if I see them trying to take one, and dissuade them from posting it online.”
 

Even though he knows Paul can’t give him one, Jason was hoping for an absolute. A guarantee.
 

“We won’t let anything happen to her,” Paul assures him. He turns and looks at Kaia. “We’re going to keep you safe.”
 

That he believes.
 

“I know you won’t let anything happen to her,” Jason replies. “If I thought you would, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
 

Paul gives him a strained smile. “Fair point.”
 

“We have a meeting set up with my publicist first thing Monday morning,” Jason informs Paul. “A follow up to the one we had yesterday about controlling the narrative here, so random pictures of Kaia and I aren’t splashed all over the internet. So we can make sure we know what’s out there, and can keep her safe.”
 

“I understand, Sir.”
 

Jason nods. “Good. I’ll see you tonight.”
 

* * * * *

“That dress is gorgeous on you,” Jason says, as he watches Kaia carefully applying lipstick. He’s leaning against the doorway that leads to his bathroom, looking at Kaia’s reflection in the mirror. “Such a shame I’m going to have to throw it on the floor later.”
 

Kaia grins, her bright red lipstick in sharp contrast against her teeth.
 

“This is the nicest dress I own.” She pops the lid on the lipstick tube she’s holding, and puts it in her small satin clutch. “It cost me almost a month’s paycheck, and some respect will be paid.”
 

“I’ll pay for the cost of the dress if you just let me have my way with it. And then let me have my way with
you
.”
 

Kaia laughs. “Oh to be rich and not care about piddly little things like taking care of the expensive clothes I own.”
 

Jason takes a couple steps forward, drawn to the gorgeous woman before him. The back of this dress dips almost cruelly low, exposing most of Kaia’s pale skin. Jason wants to run his tongue along the stretch of Kaia’s spine, wants to watch the goosebumps pebble on her skin.
 

The flowing skirt would make it easy to hike up. He could slide his hands around the front, cup her breasts through the fabric, tweak her nipples the way he knows she likes.
 

He hardens at the thought, and knows that he won’t be able to keep his hands off her all night during the fundraiser.
 

Another version of him would’ve counted on escaping the festivities for a quickie in a coat closet, but this is their unofficial coming out. He doesn’t want someone to catch them fucking in some dark place like they’re some kind of secret.
 

No, he’s going to have her
now
.
 

He walks over to where Kaia’s standing at the vanity, and presses his body against hers. The dress is soft and silky beneath Jason’s fingers, but it’s no match for the delicate smoothness of her skin.
 

He slides his fingertip down Kaia’s spine, watching the play of her muscles as they tense. She rocks her hips back, rubbing against his rock-hard erection.
 

“Jason,” she whispers. She plants her hands on the granite countertop, and Jason leans over her, his chest covering her back. He nibbles at the skin below her ear. “We can’t,” she says, disappointment coloring her tone.
 

“We
can
.” He reaches around, and slides his hand beneath the silk panel on the front of the dress. The weight of her breast is warm in his hand, and she arches back into him when he rubs her nipple with the pad of his thumb. “We
will
.”

She looks at his reflection in the mirror, fire in her eyes.
 

“Lift up your skirt.”
 

She does as he asks, her gaze never leaving his. He reaches down, and slides his fingers through the warm wetness at the center of her thighs.
 

“Fuck,” he growls. “You’re not wearing any panties.”
 

Kaia gives him a sly grin. “Surprise.”

He presses his thumb against her clit, rubbing it in a slow, maddening circle.
 

“You’re so wet,” he observes.
 

“I was from the moment I saw you looking at me the way you were.”
 

“How was I looking at you?”
 

She arches her back, giving Jason access to her neck. He takes full advantage of it, nipping at her earlobe, then sucking at the sensitive skin where he can feel her pulse point beneath his lips.
 

“You were looking at me like you wanted to
devour
me.”
 

He does. He wants to devour her. He wants to
possess
her, and he can’t wait any longer.
 

“Spread your legs.”
 

She does as he asks, and he undoes his pants, tugging them down until his erection springs free.
 

Jason wraps his arm around Kaia’s waist, lines himself up with her wet heat, and slides inside.
 

Kaia lets out a soft cry as he fills her that makes him rock his hips, hoping he can get her to let out another sound just like that one. They’re both watching each other in the mirror as Jason rocks in and out of her.
 

His fingertips glide against her clit as he does his damnedest to help her find her pleasure. She’s so close, almost there…her face is twisted in pleasure, and Jason can’t look away from her.
 

He needs more,
more
…

He picks up the pace, their hips slamming together as he tries to get deeper still. He’s on the verge of coming, but he can’t let himself fall until she does, so he doubles his attention on her clit, rubbing faster. Harder.
 

Kaia moans out his name, her eyes screwed shut.
 

He leans forward until his raspy stubble rubs against her neck. “Come for me, Kaia. Come on.”
 

A few more thrusts, and she’s contracting around him, pulling him with her into blissful oblivion.
 

As they both come down, smiling dopily at each other in the mirror, all sated and relaxed, Jason knows this is going to be an incredible night.
 

* * * * *

At the fundraiser, Jason walks through the crowd, confidently mingling with his friends with Kaia on his arm. She’s personable, and funny, and everyone pretty much loves her, just as he knew they would.
 

If a few of his friends seem shocked that he seems to have settled down a bit, Jason does his best to ignore them. He’s disappointed that Chase had to cancel at the last minute in order to make an emergency trip to China to deal with some supply chain issues with his company. There will be time for them to meet later. Lots of time, Jason hopes.
 

Still, he was one of two people at this party Jason was looking most forward to introducing Kaia to.
 

The second person is walking toward them wearing an elegant gown, and a beatific smile on her face.
 

“Jason,” Elise says fondly, standing on her tiptoes in order to reach him for a hug. “How are you?”
 

“I’m well,” he replies.
 

“I can see that.” She smiles at Kaia. “I’m guessing it has a lot to do with this beautiful young lady right here.”
 

Jason slides his hand down to rest on the small of Kaia’s back in a show of support. “It does,” he replies, beaming down at her.
 

“Kaia, this is Elise Whittington. She was my mother’s best friend. She took me in and raised me after my parents died. Elise, this is my girlfriend, Kaia.”
 

Elise’s entire face softens at the mention of the world ‘girlfriend,’ and she looks up at Jason with the kind of affection and pride he hasn’t seen from her in a long time.
 

“Kaia,” Elise says softly. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
 

“It’s nice to meet you, too.”
 

“You’re just as lovely as Jason described you.”
 

With a blush, Kaia looks down at the ground, then gives Jason a quick glance. “Thank you,” she replies.
 

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Elise teases, slapping Jason lightly on the arm. “Tell me, Kaia, what is it that you do?”
 

“I own a small graphic design business,” she explains. “I work on corporate logos, things like that. Jason told me you’re a professor at Stanford.”
 

“That’s right! Macroeconomics. But I’m not going to elaborate on that, unless you’re looking for a good cure for insomnia,” Elise replies with a laugh. “Are you having a good time?”
 

Kaia nods enthusiastically. “I am. I’ve never been to something like this before.”
 

Elise steps forward, and slides her hand through the crook of Kaia’s elbow, then leads her toward the door. “They’re all the same,” she says. “Write a check, eat terrible food, then get bored to death by the lack of conversation.”

Kaia lets out an unguarded laugh. “That’s kind of what I figured.”
 

“We’ve all made our donations,” she says. “There’s a darling cafe just around the block that’s a bit of a secret. Why don’t we all go get some coffee there? I’d love to get to know the woman who makes Jason smile like he’s looking at the sun.”
 

Kaia grins, and looks back at him, like she wants him to give her the okay. He’s more than happy to do that; when he decided to introduce Kaia to Elise, the two of them getting along like this was just about all he could’ve hoped for.
 

When they exit the building, Jason looks around, and notices that Paul isn’t far behind them. Elise is chattering away, and Kaia’s laughing at something she said. Jason’s lost in the sound of it, and that’s when a loud shot rings out through the crowd.
 

He acts on instinct, wrapping his arms around Kaia and Elise, shielding their bodies from view of the street, pressing their backs against the nearest building.
 

He’s got them covered from almost every angle. Whoever’s shooting at them will have to get through him first.
 

Jason is wild-eyed and frantic, his heart pounding out of his chest, breathing ragged. If he can just keep them protected long enough for Paul to find whoever’s shooting at them, everything will be okay…

“Jason.”
 

“
Jason
.”
 

He’s pulled out of his thoughts by Kaia’s gentle but insistent voice, and her hand cupping his cheek.
 

“What? What is it?”
 

“It was just a car backfiring,” she explains slowly, like he’s some kind of wild animal she doesn’t want to scare off. “It’s okay. We’re okay.”
 

“It was just a car?” he asks, a little dazed and confused.
 

She smiles sadly. “Yeah, just a car. We’re fine.”
 

His gaze shifts to Elise, wanting to make sure she’s okay. She gives him a soft, sad smile, and he never wants to see that look of pity in her eyes again.