One White Lie: Barrington Billionaire's Series: Book One (12 page)

Too tired to respond, he took them and leaned back. Twenty-four hours ago he demanded Lena come with him to his home where he could protect her. What did he do? He left her there, alone with the staff. Yes, she was safe, protected by hired men, but not him. That was not how he had envisioned the night to go.

He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since they had wild sex in his office. She’d rekindled a fire that couldn’t be extinguished. Everything within him wanted to be with her in his bed, making love to her all night long until she couldn’t remember her name.

But he couldn’t be any farther away from where he wanted to be.
So why am I still here?
He looked at his father one last time before drifting off to sleep.
A father was meant to protect his children, not berate and belittle them. But he hadn’t kicked us out of our home. We may not have felt love from him, but he provided for us. Why am I still here? Because if I had a son, I would want him with me.

I
t was another long night, and his body ached from what little sleep he did get on that hard plastic chair.
I need to make a donation to this unit.
As a chemical engineer, he had studied with many people in the medical field, yet he couldn’t ever remember a time where he actually visited anyone in the hospital. It hadn’t seemed odd to him until now. How was it a thirty-eight-year-old man had been able to avoid that?

It wasn’t that no one had been sick or injured, but when something did happen, his father had the doctors come to the house; even X-ray machines could be mobile.
We’ve been lucky no one has needed surgery.
He wasn’t sure if it was a perk of growing up with money or just another level of control his father wouldn’t relinquish.
What did all this get you, Dad? You’re in the hospital in a coma. Where’s all your control now?

Last night was like a slap in the face. You couldn’t ask for a better reality check than watching someone on the verge of losing their life’s battle.

His father had worked hard building his business.
And he’d been damn successful at it.
Even now Brice wouldn’t want to go head to head with his father if there were a company he had set his eyes on. There was nothing that would stop him from getting what he wanted. The price was never too high nor the risk too great.

Brice thought of the project they were now in the middle of. Trundaie was where they wanted to be. Even with all the signs beforehand warning them this might not be a wise choice, they’d forged forward.
The difference, Dad, is we know when to back off. Sometimes the prize is not worth the price.

For Brice the price was family. He had nothing that resembled anything like his friends’ families. The Barringtons gathered for family times and even let his siblings join in.
Not that Dad knew we went. He would have laid into our asses if he ever found out.
Over the years, they all had mastered lying. Not something to be proud of, but a talent needed if they ever wanted to see anything outside of their home.
The only time we all sat down together was when Dad introduced us to the latest nanny and reviewed the rules and restrictions. No one ever listened. They meant nothing to us as we all knew we were going to break them anyway. Some more than others
.

No matter how much they rebelled or caused trouble, their father only acted as the disciplinarian, never the comforter. Maybe it was because they had no mother and he thought coddling would make his sons weak, but understanding or encouragement would have been nice.

Unfortunately, he was very much his father’s son. He was demanding and only accepted the results he asked for, anything less cost his employees their job. He believed in second chances, just not at his company. Brice still considered himself a shrewd businessman, one with a conscience but not necessarily a heart.

Finally back home, standing in his foyer, he arched his back and cracked his neck. The sunrise was only an hour away, and the weekend was about to begin. He couldn’t remember the last time he hadn’t spent it at the office. With the formula on hold, pending the resolution regarding plant location, he could do nothing but wait. He had all the time he wanted to do anything he chose. What exactly that was going to be he didn’t know. He did know a woman was at his house who wasn’t too happy with him the last time he saw her. He knew how he would like to spend the day, but he wasn’t so sure she would share the same thoughts.
But I can be damn persuasive when I want to be.

Lena couldn’t sleep. No calls from Brice at all. She knew he had a lot on his mind, but what about her? Didn’t all this craziness affect her as well? He’d pulled her from her apartment, and now she was trapped in his house.
What am I complaining about? I feel safer here than I did in my apartment, but for someone who is never alone, never idle, this is not me. Luxury. This isn’t permanent, Lena, so don’t get used to it. God, I must be losing my mind.

Standing in her T-shirt and socks, she flipped the bacon. It had taken her almost an hour to find the hidden utensils. The kitchen was the size of most people’s apartments. If he didn’t have it, then it probably didn’t exist.
With all this stuff, he must do a lot of entertaining.

Her mind wondered who he might entertain. Did he bring women here? Had he used this kitchen with them? Had they gotten distracted and made love on the marble center island?

She was jealous, but why? They weren’t together, and he was a strong, virile, healthy man.
With a robust sexual appetite.
Did she think he’d abstained since he left her? No, that was impossible. She may not have been with anyone after him, but her circumstances were different. She had a son.
Well, so does he, but he doesn’t know that yet.

If she hadn’t been pregnant, would she have moved on, found someone else?
Where would I be now without Nicholas?
The thought of not having him in her life brought her to tears. Although it had been far from easy, she wouldn’t have changed a thing. He brought her all the joy in the world. He was a sweet-spirited boy like her and highly intelligent like his father. There wasn’t a time when she gave him a new toy that he didn’t try to figure out what made it work. He had to take everything apart.
God help me when he finds out what a screwdriver can do. He’ll probably take apart the entire house.
Looking around the kitchen, she laughed. Maybe I just need a bigger house to keep him occupied.

With her breakfast made, she went to pour herself a second cup of coffee.

“Did you make enough for two?”

Startled by the sound of his voice, she knocked her cup over, causing it to splash some of the hot coffee down the front of her T-shirt. Instinctively she pulled it off her so she wouldn’t get burned. With a sigh of relief, she held it to her bare chest before turning to face him.

“Don’t you know better than to sneak up on people? God, you scared me half to death.” Her voice was filled with adrenaline from the near accident.

His eyes roamed over her. Although her private parts were covered, she was far from decent. The hunger in his eyes was hotter than the coffee, and her flesh became alive with need.
Don’t look at me like that, Brice. I can’t. We can’t. Not again.

The kitchen that had seemed massive was closing in on her now. She needed to get out of there before she became lost in her own desires. “Excuse me.” She moved to the left and tried to make it out of the room, but he caught the edge of the T-shirt and tugged it free from her grasp. Stopping dead in her tracks, she crossed her arms and cupped her bare breasts. Running wouldn’t discourage him. He would only follow, and this was his house. There really wasn’t any place to hide, not that she wanted to. She had been haunted by the memories of his touch. He wasn’t her first, but he was her last. After being with him, she’d had no desire to be with anyone else. No one had ever made her feel as he did.
Not that I had the time or inclination to search for anyone really.
Whether he was a master at lovemaking or lovemaking was enhanced by her feelings for him, he brought her to heights she’d never experienced with anyone else. Her body ached to feel that again. No matter how wrong it was, she wanted him desperately.

Standing only in her pink satin panties and socks, she turned.
This is a bad idea.
Once her eyes met his, she was lost. He still held her T-shirt in his hand. Walking over to him she said, “I believe that belongs to me.” Slowly she dropped her hands from her breasts. “Would you give it to me, please?”

His light gray eyes went dark. She knew he interpreted her seductive offer exactly how she meant it. Stepping only inches away, she let the tip of her tongue lick her lips, never looking away from his gaze.

A soft growl escaped him before he pulled her against him and claimed her lips. His kiss was hard and demanding. She opened to him willingly, giving him all she had to offer. Their tongues searched each other hungrily. She fought for control; he took it from her.

Lena melted into his embrace, wanting to feel more of him. Tugging at his shirt, she pulled it from his pants and began unbuttoning it. Brice removed his tie then threw it to the side. Their need for each other grew faster than he could remove his clothes.

He pulled away, gasping for air. Brice swooped her into his arms. “This time we’re doing it right.”

She didn’t have any complaints about last time but had to agree she wanted more this morning. She wanted everything he was willing to give her, and in turn, she was going to meet his every request. Lena wrapped her arms around his neck and nestled her head on his broad shoulders as he carried her to his bedroom.

Once inside he laid her on the bed and removed his remaining clothes. He didn’t come right to her. Instead he stood at the foot of the bed, devouring her with his eyes. As his eyes made their way down her face, to her breast, then lower, she became self-conscious of her appearance.
I know, I’ve gained weight; I don’t have the perfect body I had before.
She once had a toned, lean body, but after giving birth to their son, it was now softened with full curves.
Oh no, we can’t do this. Not yet. I have to tell him about Nicholas first.

“God, you’re more beautiful than I remember.” His voice was husky with need.

She reached for the blanket to cover herself. This couldn’t continue. The truth had to be spoken now, before they made love. “Brice, I have to tell you something.”

“I know. I feel it too. A connection like we had before.”

Yes, that too.
“Brice I need to tell you about—”

He bent down and claimed her lips before she could continue. Brice murmured against them, “This moment is about you and me.” His lips trailed along her jaw and down her throat. “We’ll talk later, but right now, I want to kiss all of your luscious body.” His tongue darted out and licked the edge of her earlobe before biting it gently.

A moan escaped her lips as she arched against him. Was he right? Could what she had to say wait until later?

His mouth traveled down her neck and over her breast. “Please.” She pleaded for his lips to take her.

Brice met her gaze before taking her taut nipple into his mouth. A rush of heat ran through her veins as he nipped and sucked her. His hand moved up her thigh, resting on her panties. Without missing a beat, he slid his hands around her backside and slipped them downward.

Lifting her hips off the bed, she helped him move lower. She didn’t want anything between them. Once free, Brice moved his hands back up, this time his fingers slid between her folds. A shiver of pleasure rocked her. “You are so wet for me already.”

Lena could feel the heat from his hard shaft against her legs. She opened for him, desperate to feel him inside her. He didn’t enter her. Instead, he slowly brushed his fingers over her swollen clit. Her eyes closed as she wiggled herself closer to him, coaxing him to give more. He ignored her request and continued his slow assault on her. Each stroke sending pulsating signals to every nerve in her body.

You’re killing me.
Lena reached her hands up to pull him to her, but he grabbed her wrists and held them firmly above her head on the bed.

“Not until I make you purr.”

Purr? Scream is more like it.
He was driving her crazy, holding her body on the brink of release, yet not letting her go. “Please, I need you. I can’t wait any longer.”

As to ease the sweet torture, he slid one finger inside her and continued circling her clit. His strokes became faster, harder, then he added a second finger. She opened her legs farther so he could go deeper. Tossing her head from side to side, she struggled to free her hands, but he only tightened his grip. When she couldn’t think any longer, her body began to shake as she clenched around his fingers. “Yes. Yes. Oh, God. Brice.” Her climax continued wave after wave, and her screams of passion echoed throughout the room.

Before her senses came back, Brice was between her legs, removing his hand and replacing it with his large shaft. He didn’t enter. Instead he teased her. Rubbing himself over her clit, between her folds, and back up again. Finally he stopped at her entrance. “Open your eyes and look at me.” Her lids still heavy with desire fought to open. “Look at me, Lena. I want to see your eyes when I make love to you.”