Seduced (The Billionaire's Command #1) (6 page)

Mark laughed. “Well,
I’m pretty sure my crazy can top yours. After all, I’m the one who
acted like a creepy stalker.”

“And I’m the one who
acted like you showed up to murder me. Who brings flowers to a
murder scene?”

“Don’t forget the
business card, so the police would know who did it!” Mark joked
back, and I laughed, just as the waitress came by to take our drink
orders.

“Why don’t we move away
from a topic that makes me look like an idiot?” Mark asked. “How
are you finding adjusting to life after Hawaii?”

“It’s tough, let me
tell you. When I stare out of the view of my office onto the
parking lot, it’s definitely not Waikiki Beach. But hey, I’m
usually working and not staring out of windows, so it’s not too
bad. Crunching numbers keeps my mind active, and I actually do
enjoy my job.”

“Well, you’re pretty
much the first person I’ve ever heard who works with numbers admit
that.”

“We all just pretend we
have the worst jobs on the planet so no one will come and take them
from us.”

“I think there’s a
whole generation of high schoolers behind you that want nothing to
do with math the instant they graduate, I don’t think you need to
worry.”

“Maybe, but just to be
safe. In this economy, you never know!”

“How did you decide to
become a financial analyst, anyway?”

This was a lie I was
used to telling. I had a whole lie about my childhood all set up. I
liked to tell people that my parents were both teachers, that they
paid for my way through college, and they had a little house in the
suburbs. They sent me $100 every month just because they liked to
take care of me. Reality, of course, was a whole different story.
Somehow, however, I didn’t feel like I should lie to Mark. I didn’t
tell him the whole story, of course, but what I did tell him was
the truth.

“Honestly, it wasn’t
out of some underlying passion for business, or anything like that.
I had to get away from some personal stuff, and the best way to do
it, I thought, was to get an education and a decent job. I did some
research, figure financial analysis was probably the best way to go
in terms of time spent studying, job options after graduation, and
all that sort of thing, and here I am.”

Mark looked at me, his
eyes piercing through me. It was like he could tell there was
something I was holding back, something I wasn’t telling him, but
he didn’t ask.

“That’s a sign of a
strong person, to be able to overcome barriers like that and be
successful.”

I shrugged. “I dunno,
anyone would have done it.”

“No, don’t sell
yourself short. I imagine there are a lot of people in the same
situation as you who don’t dare leave their comfort zone the way
you did.”

I suddenly started to
feel embarrassed. I muttered thanks just as the waitress brought us
our food. Thankful for the interruption, I started eating, and Mark
did as well, leaving the conversation about my past unfinished. I
was glad. I didn’t tell people, especially not men, about my past.
I’d learned that lesson.

As the night went on,
we moved to lighter subjects. Same as in Hawaii, I found that Mark
was charming and funny, he had great stories to tell, and when it
was finally time to leave I felt that same sinking feeling as I had
the night in Hawaii. I didn’t know if, or when I would see Mark
again. After all, as he had said last time, he travelled a lot for
work, but was based in California. It wasn’t exactly a commutable
distance for a relationship, and I knew all too well how well most
long distance relationships ended.

Holy shit, are you
thinking about a relationship now? Seriously? This is exactly the
sort of thing you avoid. Remember what happened the last time you
had a boyfriend? The last time you trusted him? It all blew up in
your face. You’re absolutely not dating this man, as nice as he
might seem.

“So all this talk, and
I still don’t actually know what it is you do.”

“I run a couple of my
dad’s companies.”

“Well yeah, but what
are those companies?”

Mark shifted in his
seat, almost uncomfortably. He hesitated before answering. “For the
most part, the Hibiscus chain of resorts.”

I could practically
feel my jaw dropping on the floor.

“Hold on... you’re
telling me your dad owns the Hibiscus resorts? Like, all of
them?”

“Yeah. I don’t like to
tell people before I get to know them a bit, sorry I didn’t tell
you earlier, but you know, privacy and all that.”

“I think you understand
that privacy is important to me,” I replied wryly.

“Shit. So you must be,
a millionaire, at least.” I could practically feel myself cringing
as I spoke. I wanted to just act casual about things, but how do
you act casually when you find out the guy you’re on a date with is
heir to half the luxury resorts in the country?

“At least. Truth be
told my wealth is probably in the billions. My parents created a
trust fund for my sister and myself when we were young. I’m not
going to lie, we’re very well off.”

“Why weren’t you in the
penthouse then, of the resort in Hawaii?”

“I never book under my
own name. I like to be treated like anyone else would be treated. I
generally try to book a middle-of-the-road room and the staff never
know who I am. Well, except for one exceptionally bright
housekeeper one day who had researched the company to get her job.
She got a promotion to management that same day.”

“Wow. Shit. I can’t
believe it. I don’t even know what to say. Like, how do I talk to a
billionaire?”

“The same way you were
talking to me before was working pretty well for me.”

I realized how silly I
must have sounded and blushed.

“Sorry. I’m being
rude.”

“No, not at all. I’m
sure everyone who finds out has the same reaction, just most people
don’t say it out loud. I appreciate your honesty.”

“Serious? Are you
serious? You’re not just pulling my leg?” Something in me just
couldn’t believe this was happening, couldn’t believe it was real.
Surely a man this funny, this charming, this sexy couldn’t
also
be rich. Like, that’s just winning the life lottery.
No, more than that, the lottery doesn’t usually pay out
billions.

Mark grinned as he
pulled out his wallet, motioning at the waitress to bring the
check.

“Here. Maybe this’ll
change your mind,” he replied, handing me his credit card. The Amex
Centurion, surrounded by black, with Mark Selzer as the name on the
bottom. This was the fabled Black Card, invitation only, for the
richest of the rich.

“Alright, I believe
you,” I answered, handing him back his card. “It doesn’t make it
any less surreal.”

“Well, I’m still the
same as I was three minutes ago, so don’t worry about that. It’s
not like my snootiness level has gone up because you know how much
money I’ve got.”

“You’re right, I’m
sorry. Listen, do you want to come back to my place for coffee or
something? Or you know, we could go back to yours, it’s probably
nicer than my apartment.”

“I wouldn’t know, you
wouldn’t let me in your apartment last time,” Mark teased.

“Well, take my word for
it. There are flea infested motels by the highway that are nicer
than my apartment.”

“I’m sure it’s not that
bad. Coffee sounds nice.”

It was weird, going
back to my place, knowing that I was driving a billionaire in my
early 2000s Honda with the passenger side window that wouldn’t
quite close and seats that had holes from God knows what.

“Sorry about the
car.”

“You know, Caroline,
you don’t need to apologize for anything. I’m used to this sort of
thing, I don’t need luxury.”

“What kind of car drove
you to the restaurant?”

“A Lincoln Town Car,”
he admitted sheepishly.

“See? This is
definitely a step down from that.”

“I said I don’t
need
luxury, I didn’t say I don’t have it. You know, it’s
funny, most women when they find out about me insist that the Town
Car drive them home. I like your different reaction.”

“Well, if your Town Car
drove us, I’d be stranded at my apartment tomorrow.”

“That’s a very sensible
way of looking at things.”

I pulled into the
driveway and silently cursed myself for not cleaning the apartment
before our date. I mean, it’s not like my place was messy, I kept
it pretty organized, but I didn’t expect to be bringing home a
billionaire. He would probably think I was a gigantic mess.

“Sorry about the mess,”
I told him as we walked in.

“Don’t worry about it,”
he replied, making himself at home on my couch in the living room
while I put the coffee on.

“Cream and sugar?” I
asked.

“Just cream thanks, if
I’m really lucky I’ll get some sugar later.”

I threw a dish towel at
him and he grinned. As he looked at me, I could almost sense that
he
knew
. He knew my stomach had just done a 180 at those
words, knew that my panties were getting moist, that my skin was
tingling. Surely he just had to know.

We sat down with the
coffee and got to talking. Pretty soon, the talking became more
than talking, and we moved into my bedroom. My world spun as Mark
proved that Hawaii wasn’t just a one time fluke. He made me feel
things I could never have imagined. Orgasm after orgasm rocked my
body as he discovered me, not only with his shaft, but with his
mouth, something I’d never experienced before.

I couldn’t deny it
anymore: when Mark completely took over, when he had complete and
total control in the bedroom, I was more turned on than I’d ever
been in my life. I didn’t understand it, didn’t realize why my body
reacted the way it did when he ordered me around, pinned me to the
bed, brought me closer and closer to the edge of orgasm then denied
me, making me beg for it, making me plead for that sweet release I
craved so strongly. But I did. I did react that way, there was
definitely no denying it anymore.

As I fell asleep,
Mark’s arms wrapped protectively around me, I thought about the
fact that he was flying out tomorrow, that once more I was only
going to have him for a night. For the first time in a long time, I
wanted more than that.

* * *

Mark and I both woke up
at the crack of dawn. He had a flight to catch, and I had to get to
work. He helped me make eggs, which we ate in silence on the couch.
I suddenly began to wish I’d invested in a dining room table, but
there was nowhere to fit one in my apartment even if I had.

“So when’s your flight
leave?” I finally asked.

“Around ten. I’ll have
to be at the airport by nine.”

“I guess that’s it
then?” Despite myself, despite how much I enjoyed Mark’s company, I
was starting to feel used, like he had just come here to bang me. I
knew that wasn’t true, I knew it was more than that, but my mind
was a mess. A completely unconfident mess.

“Well, about that,
Caroline. I was thinking.”

He paused for a minute,
almost as though he was trying to figure out what to say.

“I don’t want this to
come out as creepily as the last time. I honestly don’t mean this
in a creepy way at all. I want you to come and work for my company.
We can always use a good financial analyst.”

“What? But you don’t
know if I’m any good!” I’m not sure why that was the first thing I
thought of, but it was. Mark laughed.

“Of course I do. You’ve
got your spare bedroom converted into an office. You’re what,
twenty four, twenty five, and you’ve got a good job, which is more
than most young people these days can say. There’s six tabs open on
your computer, all work related, on a weekend. You’re definitely
good at your job. And I’m not going to lie, I’d enjoy having you
around. For one thing, we could go out a lot more.”

“But aren’t you
travelling like, all the time?”

“About 100 days a year,
yes. But I’ll be in San Diego the rest of the time. Whatever
they’re paying you here, I’ll double it. And you’ll get a company
car,” he added with a wink, and I laughed in spite of myself.

“So, what do you
say?”

“I don’t know. I mean,
I want to say yes, but I think I’ll have to think about it. I’m not
the type of person who makes big life decisions on a whim.”

“I thought so. Well,
you have my number. When you come to a decision, call me and let me
know. Either way, I’m ok with it, although I’d obviously prefer if
you said yes.”

The whole day was spent
thinking about Mark’s offer rather than working. I tried to work,
but every time I started, I would think about his offer. Did I want
to accept? I think a part of me did. I think a part of me wanted to
be with him, to see how our relationship would develop.

But a part of me was
scared. After all, this would be a big move for me. I had given up
a lot for a man before, and it hadn’t ended well. Was I ready to
try again? Was I ready to trust again? I wasn’t quite sure. I
barely knew Mark. I didn’t know a lot about him at all. But he was
intriguing. I liked how he had picked up on the things like my home
office. He was obviously smart, on top of all his other traits. But
did I really want to risk everything I’d worked for just for a
chance at love? I wasn’t sure I did.

Eventually, around the
middle of the afternoon, I made my decision. I wanted to talk to
Lisa about it, but I knew what she’d say (“Oh my God, a billionaire
wants to pay you twice what you’re making now to go work for him
and date him? Why are we even having this conversation, fly there
right now!”) and she was away on a sales conference for the next
two days anyway. Besides, it was my decision to make, and I made
it. I picked up the phone, stared at it in my hand for a couple of
minutes, and then dialed the number.