The Billionaire's Heart: Billionaire Brothers (Tycoon Billionaires Book 0) (5 page)

Samira adored the UCLA campus where she was studying. Her lectures were interesting and her fellow students were friendly enough, but it was the location that made coming to college each day a joy. The campus was such a welcome contrast to the dry, dilapidated country she’d come from. The redbrick buildings here were old and proud – like cathedrals of education – rather than the featureless concrete boxes back home. The lush grounds were sprinkled with ancient trees and emerald lawns, and the bright-blue sky was infinite above, making Samira feel massive and connected with nature. The sunshine today smelled of her childhood back in Iran – but before her parents had died. It was a refreshing smell. Lemony and sweet. Like freedom.

She said goodbye to a few of the girls she was friends with and strolled towards the exit gate, clutching her books against her chest. She frowned. What the hell had that lecture been about? She’d been totally consumed by thoughts of Ivan all day. What was wrong with her?
She
wasn’t usually one to become infatuated – the guys tended to become enamoured with
her
.

But Ivan was a total dreamboat. So handsome and dominating, yet so kind and attentive. Samira knew she was a strong woman with a fiery personality. A ‘nice guy’ just wouldn’t be able to handle her. Had she finally met her match with Ivan Quinlan? Obviously Tariq didn’t think so, but it was none of his business. All she knew was, she’d never felt such an overwhelming attraction to a man before – and she didn’t just mean physically, although he
was
gorgeous. But he seemed to care about what she said and what she was passionate about. They shared a fighting spirit.

Yes, there was something captivating about Ivan Quinlan... He’d captured her attention – and Samira knew it wouldn’t be long before he captured her heart. Although of course she wasn’t stupid – there was the ten-year age gap and the fact that they lived in opposite corners of the country, which probably meant he only wanted some fun. But that was okay. Samira could handle a bit of heartbreak. Nothing could ever hurt her as much as what had happened to her parents – and she’d managed to survive that and come out fighting. So she knew she could enjoy Ivan while he was around, and if she started to fall for him, then she’d brush herself off and continue life as normal once he left.

She strolled in the sunshine towards the exit, where she saw an attractive man leaning against the fence who looked like Ivan. God, she was seeing him everywhere now. Samira knew that her hallucination was just due to how much she wanted to see him. But as she drew closer, the man stood upright and her heart washed with affection – it
was
him! She tried to remain cool as she inspected him from here: he was wearing a sharp suit, with no necktie and with the top button unfastened. He looked sexy and sophisticated. Powerful… a man who knew what he wanted and who always got it.

Samira realised that
she
looked the antithesis of him today in her long gypsy dress and sunglasses. What a cute couple they made… Excitement spiralled through her at the thought.

She halted in front of him and propped her sunglasses on her head to keep her long hair off her face. “Ivan, what are you doing here?”

His handsome face remained supercool. “I came to meet you. How it’s going? You okay?”

“Yes – it’s lovely to see you.”

Unable to stifle her excitement any longer, Samira threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. Ivan chuckled affectionately and pulled her close; wrapping his strong arms around her and making her feel secure.

“It’s great to see you, too,” he said. He inhaled to add something else, but hesitated.

She pulled away and gazed into his gorgeous blue eyes. “What?”

He winced. “I was gonna say you’re like a refreshing shower on a hot day. But it’s so corny. I don’t do sweet-nothings too well I’m afraid.”

She smirked and took his hand. “You’re sweet. And I’d love to take a refreshing shower with you on a hot day. How about it? Huh?”

He grinned, then leaned down and kissed her hard on the lips, making her knees buckle with lust. “I’ve been unable to concentrate on anything but you today, young lady. I’ve been desperate to get your tight little body back over my cock. You’re so fucking hot.”

Samira’s lust swooshed through her thighs. “You’ve been distracting me from my studies… ah, just thinking about your cock – it’s so big.” Maintaining smouldering eye contact, she reached down and ran her palm over the bulge in his trousers. “Oh, I see you’re ready for me now. I can’t wait to feel you inside me again… and again and again!”

He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her strongly, making her feel like a 1950s movie star. Then he gazed into her eyes and frowned. “Hey listen, sweetheart, has anyone weird visited you here today?”

She chuckled. “Other than you?”

“Very funny. I mean it, though. No one’s approached you, have they?”

“Like who?”

“Just anyone you don’t know. No one you didn’t expect.”

Samira shook her head. “No why?”

“It’s just… Tariq and I had a weird couple-a guys come to the office earlier. We wanted to check you were okay.”

Samira’s body filled with exited curiosity. “What
is
this project you and my cousin are working on?”

He ran his finger across her cheek. “I can’t tell you, Samira. I’m sorry... Jesus, you’re beautiful…”

She pouted and gazed into his eyes with her most endearing look. He laughed and glanced away. “Stop it – you won’t get it out of me like that… Come on, let’s get outta here. Where’s your car parked? I got a cab.”

“This way.” They started to walk along the palm-tree-lined sidewalk arm-in-arm. “I’ll have to try harder, then,” she said. “To pump you for information.”

He nuzzled her neck as they strolled in the sunshine. “Just trust me when I say you’re better off not knowing, okay?”

“Alright, Ivan. I trust you.”

They shared an affectionate smile and walked in each other’s arms until they reached her truck. It was an old metallic blue four-by-four that Samira had seen at a local garage and fallen in love with. It was clunky and temperamental, but she enjoyed cruising around in it with the windows wound down and the breeze blowing in her hair.

“This is your truck?” he asked.

“Yep. He’s my sexy hunk of metal.”

Ivan rested a hand on the hot roof. “Should I be jealous?”

She leaned over the hood and stuck out her ass. “Maybe. But perhaps we could have a ménage with him!”

Ivan laughed and squeezed her hip – not wanting to be too obscene in public. “Or I could just fuck you into a frenzy over his hood so you’ll only think of
me
when you drive him.”

“Oh, I love that idea – we’ll have to find a secluded place.”

She winked and unlocked the passenger door for Ivan, then climbed into the driver’s seat. “Actually I’ve been having some trouble with him lately,” she said. “He doesn’t fire up first time.”

Ivan slammed the passenger door. “Oh really?”

“Yeah – unlike
you
.”

“Well, I’m always on fire around you, sweetheart.”

Samira laughed and turned the key in the ignition. The truck started straight away. “So, he’s obviously intimidated by you today – he never starts first time!”

Ivan leaned over and ran his fingers through her hair, then kissed her. “I’ll take a look at him if you like? I’m pretty good with my hands.”

“Oh I know that – very well!”

She sunk into his arms and the engine hummed as the kiss became more passionate. Samira wanted to make love to Ivan all afternoon and evening. Even more so when he wrapped one hand around her waist and the other around her shoulders, then eased his tongue into her mouth, causing her thighs to tingle with lust. She was desperate to feel him inside her, thrusting her into an overwhelming orgasm, knowing he’d take care of her every desire. The thought of it caused a wave of arousal to encompass her entire body.

She reached out and started to unbutton his shirt. “Let’s fuck in the car.”

He grabbed her fingers in his firm hand. “I can’t make love to you here.” He gazed at her for a moment, then kissed her again. “But I can’t resist you.”

“Where then? Is Tariq still on the warpath?”

“No, I think we might almost have his blessing. But I need to get ready to go out. I don’t want to leave you, sweetheart, but I’ve gotta go meet my brothers.”

“I know, it’s okay. But I need to feel you pumping me hard, Ivan. I need you inside me tonight. I’ll come to your hotel later. It’ll be exciting; illicit. Where are you staying? Where’s the event?”

“The event’s at the Sheffield Hotel in Santa Monica, and I’m staying at the Fairfax Marriott nearby. It
would
be awesome to see you.” He reached out and caressed her breast, making her feel horny and subversive. “We’ve got unfinished business, huh?”

Samira rubbed herself against the seat, sensing an emptiness between her legs where he should be. “I know where that hotel is, so if you message me when you’re about to leave the award ceremony, I’ll drive out to meet you. Then we can fuck all night long, and no one can stop us.”

He kissed her hard, making her gasp. “That sounds like my idea of the perfect night.”

For most of his life, Ivan’s two main priorities had been his family and his work. He was the eldest of four brothers and one sister, so he spent any spare time he
did
have looking out for his younger siblings. He was always happy to chat with them on the phone about their problems or listen to their dreams. His mom always joked that her kids seemed to get less serious the lower down in the sibling hierarchy they got – meaning that she thought Ivan was the most serious. But Ivan was sure it was actually second-eldest, Dylan. He was surly and smouldering – something that the ladies seemed to love. The ladies also loved third-in-line Adam, of course, who was a contrast to Dylan, with his jokey attitude and charming levity. But one thing both his brothers had in common was their handsome good-looks, which tended to leave a trail of young women behind them, hoping to be wined, dined, and satisfied. And Adam and Dylan were only too happy to oblige.

But tonight, Adam and Dylan’s thoughts were on the award ceremony, and Ivan’s were on Samira… As well as on those two guys who’d visited earlier. How had they found out about the project, and what did they mean by their threats that someone might get hurt?

Ivan sat forward in his seat and leaned his elbows on the white-tableclothed table, trying to focus, but it was too noisy. The atmosphere in the huge luxury conference room was abuzz with excited chatter. Ivan would normally enjoy this sort of event, but at the moment it was as stifling as tropical heat. It was one of the most important business award ceremonies of the year, and most of the guests here were hoping to win their category nomination or score new clients. These people were the cream of the corporate crop and it felt more like the Oscars than a business function, with the amount of air-kissing and schmoozing that was going on. Ivan recognised a few of his brothers’ clients – the men and women who made million-dollar decisions on a daily basis, just as Adam and Dylan did.

Ivan pretended to listen as Adam bantered with Dylan, but actually he was feeling frustrated, sitting here doing nothing, when he should be investigating those shady guys. After they’d moved offices earlier and made sure Samira was okay, Tariq had tried calling the no-show visitors they’d been expecting, but they weren’t answering. Ivan hoped they were okay. And alive.

He wished he could talk to Dylan about this – the two had always been able to confide in each other. But he and Tariq had agreed not to tell anyone about the project, at least not until the patent was finalised and everything was in place. Ivan and Tariq knew that involving their family could endanger their loved ones – and now the threat seemed even more real than ever. His mind drifted to Samira again. If anyone dared to hurt her – or even look at her in a way that upset her – Ivan would kill them. He absent-mindedly snapped a toothpick clean in two – which he hadn’t even realised he’d been fiddling with.

“You okay, Ivan?” Dylan asked. “You were miles away.”

“Yeah, no problem. Just… Tariq and I had a falling out this morning. But we’ll be okay.”

Adam’s green eyes sparkled. “What happened? Lovers’ tiff?”

Ivan threw him a deadpan look. “Ha ha. No, it’s nothing. We’re just under a lot of strain at the moment with this project.”

“So when are you gonna tell us about this project, then?” Adam asked.

“When it’s all finished. I promise, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Well, if there’s anything we can do to help, just holler,” Adam said.

Ivan opened his mouth to thank him, but an attractive blonde strode past the table, wearing a pencil skirt and heels. Adam turned his head to watch her, with his eyes glued to her ass like a tractor beam.

Ivan smirked. “As long as there aren’t any hot blondes around, huh?”

Adam chuckled suggestively, then he stood up and caught up with the woman. They started chatting and flirting – obviously they were both hoping to get lucky tonight.

Ivan shook his head. “He can’t resist a blonde, can he?”

Dylan shrugged. “You know Adam – every girl’s dream.”

Ivan laughed playfully. “Yeah, his reputation precedes him, so they say.”

Dylan snorted. “Adam’s goals in life are pretty simple – he wants to make multi-million-dollar contracts and make love to beautiful women.”

“And he’s pretty successful at both, huh?”

“He sure is.” Dylan smirked. “I think it’s that Armani suit, you know? People find it irresistible.”

Ivan chuckled. Adam did look great tonight in his designer suit. But so did Dylan. And Ivan hoped he did, too. He sipped his beer. “Dylan, do you think there’s someone for everyone?”

Dylan froze. “What the fuck are you talking about, Ivan? You’ve been acting weird all evening. Is it really because you and Tariq fell out? Did he try something on with you?”

“Of course not. It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

Dylan opened his mouth to interrogate him further, but Adam reappeared at the table and sat down, looking smug. “What did I miss?”

“Did she blow you out?” Dylan asked.

“No way,” Adam said. “Got her number. I’ll catch her later – we can get to know each other better, you know?”

Dylan glanced up at the massive stage at the front of the room, where the ceremony was almost ready to start. “We’ve gotta get through this first. Then we can have some fun.”

“So you guys feeling okay?” Ivan asked.

Adam shrugged. “Piece of cake. We’ll win this for sure.”

“Nothing like blind optimism to cool those nerves, kiddo.”

Adam smirked and opened his mouth to retort, but then his jaw dropped in shock at something over Ivan’s shoulder.

Worry pricked across Ivan’s skin like a sandstorm. It was going to be those guys again, wasn’t it? Coming back to finish what they’d started. He braced himself for a fight, then swivelled around and… his brain cells relaxed like a warm bath. No wonder Adam had been side-tracked – the most beautiful woman on the planet was standing right there, looking self-assured and proud.

“Hi…?” Ivan spluttered.

“Hello,” Samira said.

She was wearing a short red satin gown, which looked gorgeous against her brown skin, and she’d twisted her long blonde hair up behind her head, to emphasise those carved cheek bones and huge brown eyes. She shone out from the bustling crowd like a jewel. All the other people around their table had noticed her, too, and they’d fallen out of reality to stare. Ivan’s heart pounded with lust and joy.

Dylan leaned forward – his brown eyes lighting up. “Hi, Miss. If you’re looking for table forty-three, you found it. Care to join us, huh?”

Ivan’s jealousy surged straight to his fists. Obviously Dylan didn’t know that Samira was off-limits, but his possessiveness wasn’t open to rational discussion. It was years since he’d had a rough-and-tumble with either of his brothers, and they’d never fallen out over a woman, but right now Ivan was fighting hard to restrain himself from punching Dylan’s lights out.

Samira grinned and rested her hand on Ivan’s shoulder. “Actually, I’m Ivan’s date. He said it was okay for me to come along. May I sit down?”

All three men shot to their feet. Ivan hadn’t asked if it was okay to bring a date, and – for once – Adam and Dylan hadn’t turned up with a line of hopeful women in tow.

Ivan greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, forcing down his desire to fuck her hard in front of all these people. She smelled so sweet; like honey and roses. But Ivan’s lust rocketed as he remembered that this demure demeanour masked a devilish desire to be fucked hard. She’d learnt how to hide her lust in Iran, and she was playing the innocent untouched act very well. It suited her.

She whispered in Ivan’s ear. “Don’t tell them I’m Tariq’s cousin. We don’t want him finding out I’m here – just in case. Right?”

He nodded and turned to his brothers. “Dylan, Adam, this is Samira – my date for the night.”

She smiled majestically, like an Arabian princess. If only his brothers knew how wild and free she truly was. Ivan pulled up a spare chair for her and she sat. Adam and Dylan couldn’t keep their eyes off her. But at least their nervous attention was off the award nominations for a while.

“So what do you do, Samira?” Adam asked.

She shot Ivan a flirty glance. “Oh, I’m a fortune teller from Iran.”

“Cool,” Adam said. “Maybe you can tell us if we’re going to get lucky tonight, huh?”

She laughed at Adam, then she smiled at Dylan. “Would you like me to read your palm?”

Dylan raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Sorry, sweetheart, I don’t believe in that crap.”

“Let me prove it to you,” she said. “Give me your hand.”

Ivan pushed away his envy as Samira reached across the table and took Dylan’s hand. Dylan’s attention was glued to Samira, and Ivan could see that she was having an overpowering effect on his little brother. Ivan suppressed his laughter. Adam and Dylan were always so cocky and in control around women. But Samira had silenced Dylan with her touch, and even Adam was watching the scene unfold, captivated under her spell.

Samira turned Dylan’s palm to face herself and inspected it. Ivan could see that his hand was gently shaking at her electric touch, but he decided to give his brother the benefit of the doubt – perhaps his nerves about the award ceremony were making him tremble. But probably it was because Samira was the embodiment of a primal sensual magic – the ultimate control over men worldwide.

Samira and Dylan’s eyes were locked now, unwavering. “Hmm, I see from your money line that you have a strong sense for business.”

Dylan tried to regain control. “Well, I
am
at a business awards ceremony, bright eyes, so you’ll need to do better than that.”

She threw him a sultry grin, then glanced back down at his hand. “Oh, and I see you’ll be falling in love soon.”

“Huh, definitely not. Love isn’t my style.”

Adam grinned at Samira. “Dylan’s about as likely to fall in love as
I
am. And that’s not happening any time soon. Your fortune-telling radar’s wrong on that one, Samira. No offence.”

She gazed into Dylan’s eyes. “Oh you will find love. Abroad, I think. Maybe in England… London... But we’ll see.”

Dylan pulled his hand away and opened his mouth to argue, but the awards ceremony began, so Samira turned away from the brothers and threw her attention over Ivan instead.

He smiled – enchanted – wishing he could kiss her hard. He guessed she’d been trying to make him jealous by flirting with his brothers, and – goddamn her – it had worked. He desired her even more than ever now, and he was annoyed with himself for being so easily manipulated by this nineteen-year-old filly. But, Jesus, he wanted her bad. He held her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze, vowing to get his revenge for making him want her so much.

“You’re a very bad girl,” he muttered.

“I’m very sorry.” She suppressed her smirk and bowed her head, gazing up at him with those captivating eyes. She was under his skin, and she knew it.

Ivan couldn’t look away from her. He wanted to support his brothers, but suddenly everything was eclipsed by this stunning woman. There was something enchanting about her that made her more important than his job; than his family. He wanted her in his life and in his heart forever.

Forever? Really? He glanced at her. Maybe…

Because even when Adam and Dylan went up to collect their award, he was distracted by how much he wanted to stare at Samira – to touch her; to talk to her. He was delighted for his brothers, of course, but as soon as they came back to the table and he’d congratulated them, he and Samira slipped away and headed for the washrooms… it was time to reclaim his power.