Taken by the Pirate Billionaire (12 page)

His gaze darkened and slid over her. “You’re welcome. And we really should go downstairs, before I’m touching you physically as well as emotionally.”

She gave a tiny smile and looked at him through her lashes. “That might not be a bad thing. Maybe before breakfast we could take that shower?”
 

“Maybe you’re on to something.” He arched a brow and pulled her into the bedroom, and toward the French doors leading to his master bath.

She wanted him again. As ridiculous as it was, and as insatiable as she felt, she couldn’t get enough of Devon Murray. It was just as he’d teased. He touched her. Both on an emotional and physical level.

“You have far too many clothes on,” she murmured, and reached to undress herself.

Devon watched her wiggle out of her clothes and sighed. This morning had been perfect so far. He had wanted to fix her breakfast and get her all relaxed, and
then
hit her with the bad
news.

But with her naked, and his body already responding, he knew he would be a fool to argue. Not to mention this might be his last chance to touch her.
 

The dark thought slipped in and settled like acid in his belly. He didn’t want to consider the possibility, but he was a realist. After Renee heard the rest of his news, there was a good chance she’d want nothing to do with him anymore.

“Come here, sweetheart.” He took a step forward, picked her up, and carried her into the bathroom.

“Carrying me? So romantic.” She gave a husky laugh and looped her arms around his neck.

He set her down in the shower and then turned on the spray.

“Cold! The water’s cold, and that’s not the least bit sexy.” She yelped, jumping back from the stream.

“My mistake.” Sort of. He gazed at her nipples, which were now tight and glistening with the drops of water. He might’ve done that little trick on purpose.

When the water warmed up, sending puffs of steam into the air, Renee stepped back under the stream.

“Aren’t you going to join me?” 

“Absolutely.” He shed his own clothes and stepped in beside her.

He grabbed the soap, lathering up a good amount between his hands before reaching for her breasts. She sighed as he cupped one, loving the heaviness of it in his hand. He plumped it, taking extra time to stroke over her nipples.

Fuck, but he’d been so hot for her breasts the night they’d met. They were amazing. Lowering the bar of soap down her body, he slid it between her legs. Her groan was guttural as he moved it back and forth.

“Mmm.” She fell back against the wall of the shower, her eyes closed.

When all the soap had washed away from her skin, he set the bar aside and lowered his mouth to her breast to suckle her nipple.

Renee’s breathing turned ragged and shallow, as her head rolled back against the wall. Her breast pushed deeper into his mouth and her moan encouraged him.

Devon circled her nipple with his tongue, nipping and teasing while rolling her other one between his eager fingertips. Then he licked his way to her other breast and did the same, before sucking her nipple deep. She was squirming against him, but held his head to her as tiny cries came from her mouth.

“You are so sexy, sweetheart.” He dropped to his knees in front of her and pressed kisses to her stomach, circling his tongue into the crater of her belly button. “So beautifully made for me. For my touch.”

His hands slid down her hips, and he pressed his face into her springy curls. The scent of his spicy soap and her arousal made his cock harden to its fullest.

“Devon....” She groaned.

His tongue found its way over her and he snaked it in and out with intense voracity. She was hot, wet and tasted like sex. His desire for her was only matched by his need to please her.

He urged her thighs apart and she obliged, moving one foot sideways. Her legs parted enough that he could see how hot he’d made her. He leaned forward and slid his tongue deep inside her.

“Devon!” She bucked at first, and then ground down against him, pulling on his hair.

He used his fingers to further part her lips, exposing her swollen pink clitoris. He flicked it rapidly with his tongue, before drawing it inside his mouth and sucking on it.

“Oh...oh God...yes!”

Renee’s cries turned to screams as he slipped two fingers inside her to check her readiness. She came in an instant, tightening around his fingers.

He removed his fingers, slick with her juices, and then stood up. Grabbing her ass, he lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his hips. In one smooth thrust he was buried inside her hot sheath.

His fingernails dug into her ass, and she didn’t protest as he fucked her against the wall. His cock pulled out, then thrust in harder and faster.

He pulled out again, teasing her with the tip.

“Please! I need you inside me.” She bit his shoulder and tried to lower herself onto him.

He let her squirm for a moment, loving the feel of her wet body wiggling against him, before he slammed back up into her, imbedding himself to the hilt.

“Oh God,” she screamed as he started to thrust into her again. “I love you.”

Her words registered and sent him over the edge. He came hard inside her, having intended originally to pull out.

Devon sank down to the floor of the shower, taking her with him. He closed his eyes.
No protection. Fuck.
She loved him? Not likely. She would hate him if he’d gotten her pregnant.

Renee climbed off of him, painfully quiet now.

Devon stepped out of the shower and handed her a towel, then grabbed one for himself. He did a quick job of drying off, before he slipped back into his jeans.

“I’ll get breakfast started,” Devon said and left her alone.

Chapter Sixteen

Renee held the towel against her and stared into the mirror.

Had she just declared loving him? Though that wasn’t even the scary part—love declarations sometimes came out during sex. She knew that. The scary part was she might actually mean it.

How could that even be possible? After only three days? Did anyone fall in love in three days?

“It’s good sex,” she told herself in the mirror. “That’s all. Good sex makes you believe its love. And I will
not
confuse the two.”

After her self-administered pep talk, she got dressed and went downstairs. In the kitchen, Devon was frying bacon and flipping pancakes in a pan on the stove.

“We should probably talk,” he said, without looking up.

Okay, so he was going to freak out on that little declaration.
Renee winced. “If this is about that
I love you
comment—”

“No,” he interrupted. “It’s not. Why don’t you have a seat?”

It wasn’t about that? And it was a little weird he was so quick to brush it off. Did he get love declarations all the time? That thought made her a little pissy.

Renee pulled out a bar stool and sat down. “All right, what’s going on?”

“I thought I should give you fair warning.” He set a piece of paper down in front of her.

No preliminaries, just
bam
. Renee stared at what looked to be a screen shot of a website and felt the blood drain from her face.

“How...?” Her voice trailed off as she stared at the picture at the top of the story.
 

The picture was of Devon kissing the back of her neck at his party the other night. She scanned the story.

Social Network mogul Devon Murray finally captured on camera, along with his latest lover. But who is she?
 

Renee stopped reading. They’d figure it out soon enough. Her stomach dropped and she felt bile rising in her throat.

“Do you remember the redhead from the party?”

“That woman who tried to molest me? What about her? Did she take this picture?”

“I believe so. I guess, when I sensed a reporter in the house that night, I was looking at the wrong woman.” He dished up a plate of pancakes and bacon and then set it down on the table in front of her. “Shauna sold me out for a few bucks.”

“I thought your parties were discreet.” The panic was setting in. She could hear the urgency in her own voice. “Anyone who sees this—”

“The photo doesn’t show your face.”

But it showed his—which was extremely rare. And with a little research, anyone could figure it out. She knew they were both thinking it.

“My parties have always been discreet.” He slammed the pan in the sink and clenched his fists. “I’ve never allowed reporters in. Shauna is the new wife of an old acquaintance, and I should have had a background check done on her. It’s my own fault this happened.”

“It’s not your fault.”
 

She’d had no business being at a secret sex party anyways. Her whole motive for going had turned out to be pointless; searching for a brooch that had probably been sold centuries ago.
 

Get a grip, Renee, maybe it’s not as bad as you think.

“This is small gossip site. Surely not that many people go to it.”

“It’s the only site, it’s also been picked up by several media and gossip sites.”

Crap.
Renee pushed the pancakes around on her plate for a minute, unable to even think about eating now.
 

“This can’t be good for my reputation. No one will want to use my business knowing I’ve gone to one of your parties. That I’m—”

“No.” Devon turned to face her, his expression fierce. “This will not affect you. I give you my word.”

Renee gave a weak smile. “I’m overreacting, I’m sure. Just ignore me. I’ve never been a public figure, never been in the spotlight, and it’s just a pretty big shock.”

He came over and sat on the stool next to her, touching her cheek. “I’ll take care of this, I promise.”

She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe this would all blow over and no one would figure out it was her. Who she was... God, she felt sick.

All this for nothing. And now her grandparents’ house was likely to be foreclosed on. Maybe she could sell the painting, maybe that would help. Just as quickly as the idea went through her head, she dismissed it. She couldn’t. Parting with the portrait wasn’t going to be an option.

“Will you take me home now?” The request was out before she could stop it.

Devon’s mouth tightened, but he nodded. “Of course, if that’s what you wish.” 

“I think so, yes. I’m sorry. I just can’t eat anything right now. I need time to absorb...everything.” 

Devon nodded. They stood and headed to the front door.

“Just a moment. Your painting.” He turned suddenly and went upstairs to retrieve it.

She watched him go, her heart heavy. Did she regret it? Knowing the potential shit storm coming her way, it was hard to say no without hesitation.

This morning when she’d arrived things had been kind of perfect. But they’d quickly slipped into massively complicated. Then again, what had she expected? That she could just casually, unobtrusively date—or sleep with—one of the most controversial billionaires out there?
 

Devon came back down the stairs, the painting in his hand. He was so damn attractive, even in his broody state. Then again, he was often in that state. This morning it was just amped up a little.

“Here you are.” He lifted the painting towards her and she reached to take it, but her fingers didn’t get a good enough grasp.

Devon tried to grab it again, but was too late. The picture slipped from both their hands and crashed to the ground. The frame cracked and the canvas pulled free from its backing.

“Oh my God.” Renee lifted her hand to her mouth in horror at what she’d just done. “I’m so sorry. I lost my grip. Oh my God.”

How could she be so damn clumsy? Her eyes filled with tears.
 

Devon leaned over and scooped up the painting, then carried it to the table in the foyer.

What was he doing?
She watched in dismay as he pried the frame away from the canvas.

“Devon, stop! You’ll ruin it further. Maybe we can get it fixed somewhere.”

“Hold on a second... Well, I’ll be damned,” Devon said and a moment later lifted a small round object from inside the frame.

Renee blinked and the air locked in her chest. She couldn’t breathe. She had to be seeing things. It couldn’t be... She grew dizzy as he turned the object a bit and the light twinkled off the rubies.

He looked at Renee and then set the antique brooch in the palm of her hand, closing her fingers around it. “This, I believe, belongs to you.”
 

Chapter Seventeen

Her heart thudded and she drew in a small breath. She looked from his sincere eyes and then admired the complexity of the brooch.

It was heavier than it looked and even though it was in her hand, she struggled to believe that this was happening.
 

“Look, there’s a letter, too.”