His to Have: A Billionaire Romance Read online

  He rises up and scoops me up in his arms. A moment later, we’re in his room and he tosses me on his bed. A moment after that, he’s on top of me, and I’m fumbling his belt and his buttons and imagining how good it will feel to have him inside me. He unhooks my bra and tosses it across the room as I tear his shirt off. I love the warmth of his chest against mine. I can feel the strength of his erection pulsing against me. He reaches over and grabs a condom from his nightstand. I grab his arm. “This is a one night thing.”

  “Of course.” He kisses me again. I hear the tearing of foil as he frees the condom. I have my hand around his waistband, and I can’t wait to have him free. As soon as he is, he reaches down and slides it onto his cock. I rub the base of his shaft as he slides the protection into place. Then he places his tip against my sex, rubbing my clit slowly before making his first thrust.

  When he enters me, it’s like he connects his entire body to mine, sliding his tongue against my lips as he pushes his length inside me, locking his hips against mine. He rocks himself against me with wonderful force. Each thrust sends new levels of bliss through every inch of my being. I feel the sweat breaking of out every pore in my body as he races against me. I close my eyes and disappear into that sweet escape. For this moment, for this night, I don’t have to worry about who I am. I’m his, and he’s mine.

  ***

  It’s the best sleep I’ve had in months. So good, in fact, that I completely fail to notice Blake’s alarm going off, or him getting out of bed. Thankfully, he laid a robe for me at the end of the bed. I slip it on, and go to find him. His place seems larger in the daylight, starker, more modern. The sunlight catches off the angles of the glass wall that looks over a roof terrace. The terrace stretches around the corner of the building and could pass for a park in the sky. There are a few ornamental trees and grass and Blake. He’s leaning back in a chair and reading the paper. I don’t know which one is more surprising, his park in the sky or the fact that someone still reads the physical paper.

  I find my way outside. “Morning,” I say.

  “I’m half disappointed you’re wearing the robe,” he says. He doesn’t even look up from the paper.

  “You’ll make me blush.”

  “I’d like that very much.” He puts the paper down.

  I can’t hide my grin as I sit down next to him. “Nice place you have here. A bit bachelor-chic for my taste, but it has potential.”

  “Most people would kill for a place like this,” he says. “There was something I wanted to ask you last night, but it didn’t seem like the right time. I don’t know how else to say this, so I’ll be blunt. Last night you said this was a one night thing.”

  “I’m not one of those girls, Blake. I don’t need you to lie to me and make promises you don’t intend to keep.”

  “It’s not that,” Blake says. “This is something I wanted to tell you last night, but you wouldn’t let me.” He folds the paper and gets up. “I used to work for your father.”

  “So? Is that why you picked me up last night?”

  Blake laughs. “No, I had no idea who you were until your ex said your last name. That’s why I wanted to leave. I didn’t want to cause you any more trouble. I didn’t exactly leave the company on good terms.”

  “He didn’t either,” I say.

  “No, this was years ago before the scandal and the company going under. I left and started my own company.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” I ask.

  “I just wanted you to know. I want to be as honest with you as possible. I also want to be as direct as possible. I want to make you an offer.”

  “Does it involve breakfast?”

  He smiles. “It can involve as many of them as you like.”

  “I guess that will depend on the rest of the offer.”

  “I need someone to help me navigate this whole world of old-money. Business, I understand, but your people, the Prentisses and Felicities of the world, I have no idea what makes them tick.”

  “Why do you care at all?” I ask. “You’ve obviously done well enough for yourself without them, and I’m not exactly looking to spend more time with them after last night.”

  “I need them. Their parents. There are things that money can’t buy. Influence, loyalty, power.”

  “You realize that I’m a complete pariah now, right?”

  “I don’t need your name, I need you, what you know.”

  “And here I was hoping you wanted me for my body.”

  He grins. “Well, that could be a side benefit for both of us.”

  “What makes you think I’d be interested?”

  “You’re interested,” he says. “You help me do this, and I’ll help you rehabilitate your image. In the meantime, you’ll get all the benefits of spending time with me.”

  “I need to think it over,” I say.

  “Take all the time you need. I have to head into work in a few minutes. Feel free to ransack my place while I’m gone.”

  “I have places to be too,” I say. It’s a lie. I have nowhere to be.

  “Should I call you a car?”

  “I can take care of that myself.”

  Blake reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black business card. “My number. Call me when you decide you’re in. I promise you two things: I won’t lie to you, and I won’t let you down. Think about what you want, Catherine.”

  He kisses me on the forehead again. “Either way, I hope I’ll see you again.” Then he heads out, leaving me alone, holding his stupid business card, wondering what the hell I’m doing with my life. I look at the view of the river for a while and decide I should at least shower before taking my walk of shame.

  The bathroom is clean and modern like the rest of Blake’s place, and even the shower feels like a work of art. The hot water feels good, and I let everything fog up around me before finally stepping out. The stone floor must be heated because it’s warm underfoot. My apartment, nice as it is, doesn’t hold a flame to this place. If I pass up Blake’s offer, I wonder how much longer I’ll be able to live this kind of life. I don’t know if I can live a normal life.

  I dry off, find my dress, and slip back into it. I find the business card and slip it into my purse. I take one more look at Blake’s place before heading out. I wonder where he is. Whether he really had a meeting or if he just wanted to get out. Either way, when the elevator ride is over, I’m glad to step into the fresh morning air and head on my way. It’s a new day, and, whether it’s with Blake or not, I’m going to make the most of it. I’m so caught up in my train-of-thought that I don’t notice the man frantically waving to me.

  “Catherine,” he calls. “Hey, wait up!”

  I turn as he reaches for me.

  “Ben?”

  “How have you been?”

  I freeze in place. How many years has it been? How long have I thought about this moment? Ben. My first love. The boy who never cared about my family name or my money or any of that. The boy who broke my heart. The one who got away, showing up the second I leave Blake’s place. “Good,” I say. It’s all I can manage to get out. I force myself to add, “It’s been a while.”

  “I know we didn’t leave things on the best terms, but I need to talk to you somewhere more private.”

  Ben walks over to the curb and hails a taxi. “Where are you headed? We can talk on the way.”

  “I think I’d rather walk.”

  “It’s about Blake. You need to stay away from him.”

  “What? We haven’t spoken in years, and you want to talk about Blake? How do you even?”

  “I’m trying to protect you,” he says. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”

  “How do you even know about him?” I ask.

  Ben reaches in his jacket and pulls out an ID badge. I see his picture and the bold letters FBI. “I’m going to lose my job for telling you this.” Get in the car, and I’ll explain everything.”

  CHAPTER 3

  BLAKE


  I lean over my desk and try to catch my breath for a minute. Breathless. That’s how I’ve felt since the moment I laid eyes on Catherine Carlisle. It’s mid-morning, and usually I’d be halfway through my day’s work at this point, but I haven’t been able to get a damn thing done. I can’t get halfway through an email or any of the dozen reports on my desk without my eyes glazing over and my mind drifting back to her. I pick up the phone and press 9.

  “Edna, get me Damien. Tell him to bump the rest of his morning.” I hang up and pace the room until Damien arrives. He looks like he ran up two flights of stairs. He’s going to kill me. I know it. He’s going to chew me out and tell me I’m the biggest asshole who ever lived. I know that too.

  “Morning boss,” he says. He takes a quick look at me and his eyes light up. “Late night last night?” He taps my arm and smiles. “You look like you got run over.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “A girl or a crisis?” he says.

  “Both,” I say. “ I met someone last night.”

  “When you were meeting with Anderson? I was going to ask how it went. We need to make some friends fast if what you think is about to happen is really about to happen.”

  “It didn’t. He had another thing. Don’t worry about it. I just wanted to give you a heads up about what did happen. You might want to sit for this.”

  “Christ, Blake, what did you do?”

  “I told you, I met someone,” I tell him.

  He squints and looks at me. “What aren’t you telling me? Did you murder someone or something? Did you get arrested? I’m the guy you tell. That’s the deal we made when you took me on.”

  “You might know her. Well, you know of her,” I say.

  He claps his hands. “Did you bang a celebrity? Christ, don’t leave me hanging here.”

  “I went home with Catherine Carlisle,” I say.

  The color drains from Damien’s face. “Bullshit,” he says. He sits down and runs his hands over his temples. “Catherine Carlisle, as in the daughter of Richard Carlisle? As in the daughter of our former boss? Carlisle Capital Richard Carlisle? What the hell were you thinking?”

  Damien is turning red. It suits him better than ghostly pale. He looks like he’s about to stand up and flip my desk over. “Seriously, what the hell were you thinking?”

  “I wasn’t. I mean I didn’t know who she was when we met. She was at the party last night. I ran into her while waiting for Anderson.”

  Damien hangs his head. His hair has thinned considerably since I convinced him to make the jump from Carlisle Securities. He probably thinks I’m trying to kill him with stress. “Does she know who you are? Tell me she doesn’t know who you are.”

  “I told her who I was. Obviously I didn’t go into detail about what happened between me and her father.”

  “I hope it was worth it,” Damien says. What he really means is he hopes it’s a one time thing, one that doesn’t blow up into anything bigger. I know he’s pissed, but at the end of the day, he works for me, and I’m not going to let him change my mind about Catherine.

  “I’m asking her to see me again,” I say.

  “I’m not just saying this as your corporate fixer. I’m saying this as your friend, Blake. Don’t do it.” He gives a half laugh and shakes his head. “I’m not going to change your mind on this one, am I?”

  I shake my head no.

  “This goes one of two ways: either her father catches wind of what you’re doing with his daughter and loses it or she finds out about your history with her dear old dad and comes after you herself.”

  “You forgot the third possibility.”

  “That you get away scot-free?”

  “No, that I tell her the truth and she doesn’t care.”

  “It’s the worst kept secret in New York that you’re the reason her family’s broke, and coming after you is the only chance they have of getting that money back. Between you and a fifty million dollar trust fund, I think she’d choose the trust fund.”

  “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Christ, kid, let this one go.”

  I wish I could, but I can’t. He’s right. I’m going to break her heart or she’s going to break mine. There’s no way this ends well. “She could be an asset,” I say. It’s disingenuous. I don’t care what ins she has. I only care about keeping her close, seeing her as soon as possible. Damien is right. Seeing her is dangerous. It’s stupid. And there’s no way in hell I’m doing anything else. So what if I’m bent on my own destruction? Everyone else is anyway.

  “At least let me figure out if she’s up to anything,” Damien says. “Her father could be putting her up to this in some way.”

  “How about you introduce yourself today?” I suggest. “I’m sending her a gift. You can deliver it.”

  “I’m serious about looking into her,” he says.

  “If it will make you feel better, go for it, but she’s not trying anything.”

  “I’m more worried about whatever you have in mind.”

  “What does that mean?” I ask.

  “It means I’ve seen this movie before, and I’m not sure you’re gonna like the ending.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Catherine

  I get in the cab in a daze. “What the hell is going on here?” I ask.

  Ben sits next to me and slips his badge back into his pocket. “I know we didn’t leave things on the best of terms, but you know I care about you. Where are you headed?” he asks. He tries to smile, but I can tell something’s off. He’s different than I remember him. He’s not just older. It’s something else.

  I don’t answer.

  “Just drive,” he tells the driver, and we’re off.

  I’m still in disbelief that he’s sitting next to me, and that he thinks that’s ok. Didn’t leave on the best of terms. That’s an understatement. Ben was my brother Aidan’s friend, his roommate actually. They met at school. Ben was only a year older than me, but he had skipped a grade at some point. He wasn’t from money, at least not the type of money we were from. His mother was a professor, and I don’t really know what his father’s deal was. Ben stayed at our house one summer while his mother did some kind of research project in Mongolia. I was young, and naïve, and I thought I loved him, and I think for a while he thought he loved me too.

  “Ben, you can’t change what happened,” I tell him.

  “I know,” he says. “You don’t know what you meant to me, what that summer meant to me.”

  That summer. My brother had a girlfriend at the time, and at least twice a week, Ben and I would end up alone. My father was constantly working, and my mother was always off on some yoga retreat or at some healing seminar, but Ben was always there. Whenever I needed him, he was there, and whenever he needed me, I was there too.

  I used to bring him into the city and drag him to museums. The Met, MoMA, the Guggenheim, I dragged him everywhere, and we’d look at art, and we’d talk about everything we wanted to do with our lives, and we’d get food and talk about what we would do once we could finally live on our own, and we’d make out. In the park, on the train, just about everywhere you could imagine, we made out. Then, at the end of the day, we’d head back to my parents’ house in Connecticut and wait for my brother to come back. We never told anyone, but I’m sure it was obvious. Ben said he’d find a way to make things work when the summer ended, but then, one morning, at the end of summer, he was gone. He hadn’t even said goodbye.

  I didn’t see him again until my brother’s funeral.

  “I’ve tried to figure out what to tell you so many times, and now this happens, and I know it’s happening for a reason, and I’m trying to make things right with you. Cat, I’m trying to help you. You don’t have to like me, but I’m here to help.”

  “You show up out of nowhere, after all this time, and you expect me to just go along with whatever you’re saying?” I ask. My voice rises as I speak. My hands are starting to tremble. “And you’re keeping tabs
on me? What the hell is going on?”

  Ben shoots a look at the driver and then leans in to me. He cups his hand over his mouth and whispers into my ear. “The guy you were with last night is the subject of an FBI investigation. I’ve been tailing him for the past month. Cat, if you don’t stay away, you’re going to get caught up in this, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “What did he do?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  I give the driver my address and turn my attention down to my phone. I’m not in the mood for games.

  Ben gets the hint. “Legally, I can’t tell you what we’re investigating. I shouldn’t have told you this, but I felt like I owed you. The less you know, the better off you are. There are some really serious allegations against this guy.”

  “Owed me…” I say. I bit down on my lip and take a slow breath. “If you want me to listen, tell me what you know.”

  That’s when Blake drops a bombshell. “He doesn’t exist.”

  “I slept in his bed last night; I think he exists.”

  “Not Blake Bennett. There’s no record of him. He popped up here in New York five years ago, and other than that, there’s no trace of the guy. He’s a phantom. We’ve been looking into him for months and nothing checks out. He’s not even thirty years old and he’s a billionaire. A billionaire, Cat. He has a thousand million dollars.”

  “I know what a billionaire is, Ben. Back before we lost everything and became complete pariahs, I used to be from a family of them.”

  “And it took decade upon decade of unbelievable success for them to get there. Five years, Cat. Five years. I couldn’t even pay off my student loans in that time.”

  “So because he’s successful, he must be a criminal?” I ask. “You know, they said the same thing about my father.”

  “I’m just telling you to be careful, ok? And I’m asking you to keep this between you and me.”