The Billionaire Submissive (Billionaires in Bondage) (31 page)

She shook her head and he scowled, starting to rise up to argue. So she popped him on the shoulder with the crop. “I didn’t tell you to move, Donovan.”

His nostrils flared, his mouth soft and lush, his eyes blazing with desire. She didn’t have to grab his cock to know he was rock hard and aching.
Only for me.

Smiling, she leaned across the table, curled her finger in his collar and pulled him in close for a kiss. He didn’t hold back. He opened his mouth and sucked her tongue on a deep, hoarse groan. Ralph chose that moment to come with a loud shout, his wife’s throaty cries echoing in the room.

Groaning with frustration, Donovan broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “Lilly?”

“Yes, Donovan?”

“For making me listen to them, you owe me dessert tonight.”

She tangled her fingers at his nape and moved around the table so she could draw him into her arms and hold him close. Her other hand explored the welts on his back, drawing a gasp from him. “I already called Dmitri to find out what kind of pie he has tonight.”

Lifting his head, Donovan gazed into her eyes, his eyebrows rising with interest.

“Blueberry. And he promised a quart of whipped cream.”

“I think I’m going to need a new bed again.”

Lilly turned to Donovan and squeezed his hand. He hadn’t let go of her since they’d left the hotel. “I thought we were going to Dmitri’s?”

He turned onto a side street and slowed. “I have something I want to show you first.”

She didn’t know North St. Paul very well, but she thought this was the neighborhood where he’d grown up. Sure enough, after a few more minutes, he parked in front of his childhood home, and this time, he turned off the engine.

“Ricardo called to ask a favor.”

She smiled. “Naturally you couldn’t say no.”

Donovan got out of the car, and she waited for him to come open her door. He took her hand again and they walked up the sidewalk to the front door. He didn’t knock or pull out a key, but turned the handle and walked straight on in. “Of course not. He’s had an apprentice working in his restaurant for the past year, but the frantic pace of such a demanding job didn’t suit him. He’s a superior chef, but he wants something more low key and relaxed. Ricardo thought he would make an excellent personal chef.”

Although remodeled with fresh paint and modern yet classic furniture, the home still resonated with craftsman bungalow charm. The dark trim contrasted nicely with the earthy paint colors and the hardwood floors looked original. He’d probably knocked out a few walls to give the first floor a more open-concept feel, but otherwise, she could totally see him growing up in his house thirty-plus years ago.

He led her over to the large mantel above the wood-burning fireplace. “This is my mother, Beverly, and my father, Will.”

Lilly lightly touched the silver frame. It was the picture of the fishing boat he’d found years ago, his mother and father smiling at the camera. His father’s arm curled around his mother’s waist, and her hand rested lightly on her stomach. It was impossible to tell because she was so slim, but Lilly suspected Beverly must have already known she was pregnant with her only son. “She’s beautiful. She has your smile. And I can definitely see where you got your looks. Your father was a dark-haired, handsome devil too.”

Her nose caught the scent of something divine and she narrowed her gaze on Donovan. “Don’t tell me this personal chef is here? Now?”

“Come on, I’ll introduce you.” In the kitchen, a young African American man stirred something on the stove. “Knock knock, Chris.”

Turning, he wiped his hands on a towel before shaking hands. “Mr. Morgan, welcome.” His smile was easy and wide, lighting up his entire face, and she had to admit, she loved his Southern accent. “Thank you again for the opportunity.”

“Not at all. By the way Lilly’s mouth is watering, you’ve already proven yourself to be a valuable asset. Lilly, this is Christopher Barker, our new personal chef. Chris, my fiancée, Lilly Harrison.”

Stunned, she gave Donovan’s hand a warning squeeze. “What did you just call me?”

“Fiancée?”

“I don’t recall any proposal, Mr. Morgan.”

Eyes heavy lidded, he reached up and ran a finger around the collar on his neck. She hadn’t even noticed he’d left his shirt open after leaving the hotel. “I do, Miss Harrison. Though I agree a ring is in order. The biggest, most ostentatious diamond I can find.” He tugged her closer and bent down to whisper in her ear. “Now that I’ve finally won the words I’ve been waiting so long to hear, do you honestly believe I’d let you escape?”

Clearing her throat, she blinked and hoped she didn’t look as teary and emotional as she felt. “We’ll see. So are you living here, Chris?”

He shot a confused look at Donovan and shook his head. “No, ma’am. I’m actually down the road in Ricardo’s old house.”

“Oh.” She looked back at Donovan, trying to figure out what he was up to. “That’s convenient.”

“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes. When you called, Mr. Morgan, I set up drinks on the back deck. Dmitri confirmed dessert will be delivered promptly at seven.”

“Thank you, Chris.” Donovan took her hand again and headed for the large French doors. “Chris’s specialty is traditional Southern comfort foods like fried chicken and mashed potatoes, so I’m afraid we’ll have to continue to depend on Dmitri to satisfy your sweet tooth.”

At the door, Hank sat wagging his tail and drooling all over a tennis ball in his mouth.

Her throat closed off and her chest ached so badly she couldn’t breathe. All she could do was look up at Donovan and hope she didn’t burst into tears.

“I’ve been thinking about moving back out here for quite some time, but I was too lazy to leave downtown. Then Ricardo called and it just seemed like the perfect time to make the move. Now both you and Hank can come to stay with me whenever you like, though I’m hoping you’ll just give in and move in with me immediately.”

She swallowed hard and finally found her voice. “Let me guess, you took the liberty of moving a few of my things here too?”

He smiled faintly. “No. I just bought you all new stuff.”

Launching herself into his arms, she buried her face against his chest. “Excuse us, Chris.” He managed to get the door open and carried her outside, settling into an Adirondack chair. He cuddled her on his lap and reached over to pour them both a glass of wine. “I know it was presumptuous of me to bring Hank over without your permission, but he’s loving the back yard.”

As if he knew they were talking about him, Hank jumped up and put his paws on the side of the chair so she could pat him. “I can’t believe you left your downtown penthouse condo to live in an older family neighborhood just so I could have my dog.”

“I want the family, the dog and, most especially, you. Will you do me the very great honor of marrying me, Lilly Harrison?”

Scratching Hank behind the ears, she avoided Donovan’s gaze. “You know I love you, but…”

“There aren’t any buts for me,” he interrupted firmly. “You know I always get what I want, and that’s you, Lilly. I want you with me every moment of every single day. I want to wake up with delight each morning to see what furnishings I’ll have to replace. I want to watch you melt over every single bite of food. I don’t care if you don’t want any children or if you decide we need ten massive shedding dogs that destroy everything I own. As long as you’re with me, I’ll live anywhere, do anything, and I’ll be the happiest man in the world.”

She turned in his arms and ran her finger over his collar. “What if our secret gets out? What if people start asking questions?”

“I don’t care.”

“You say that now, but I know your pride, Donovan. I couldn’t bear to disappoint or embarrass you.”

His eyes narrowed and he lowered his voice to the privileged arrogant asshole tone that never failed to turn her on. “You’d never be a disappointment to me and I don’t give a rat’s ass if people find out you’re my Mistress.”

“So you say.”

“Someone did find out about us.”

Surprised, she searched his gaze. “Really? Who?”

“Miss Wruthers confronted me this afternoon. She’d ordered my PI to tail you behind my back, and as soon as you showed up at the hotel, she came running to tell me you were seeing your old clients again.”

Lilly winced. “She thought I was a prostitute too, didn’t she?”

“And she hired a photographer who somehow managed to get a very lewd shot of Morgan Industries’ CEO butt naked on a boat with suspicious red marks on his ass.”

Her mouth fell open. “Did you have to pay her off?”

He gave her a smug smile and leaned back in his chair. “Hardly. I scared her off with the truth. I even showed her my collar. She couldn’t flee into the elevator fast enough.”

“Why would that scare her off?”

“Because she didn’t want money, sweetheart. She wanted to be Mrs. Morgan. But the position has already been claimed by you, if you’re up for the job.”

Lilly propped herself up on his chest. “Are you sure she won’t come back to cause problems for you? I mean, if—and that’s a huge if—I accept this deal, she might decide to cause you trouble out of spite.”

“I don’t care.” He wrapped his fingers in her hair, slowly winding the strands around his hand to pull her close enough for a kiss. “I love you, Lilly. If that means you want to put a cock ring on me and promenade me down I-35, I’ll do it. And I don’t care who wants to take a picture of it.”

She nibbled on his lips. “You know I can’t do freeways.”

“No, but you can do me anytime, any way you want.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Though maybe I shouldn’t go streaking around on Lake Minnetonka anymore.”

“You mean I’m going to get this sexy beast of a submissive who swears to let me do anything I want and it’s not going to cost me a dime?”

“Just a few lashes of the crop I so thoughtfully fetched from your townhome. Plus I’ll throw in a personal chef, a fleet of fishing boats, a dozen houses all around the globe, and whatever else your heart desires.”

She scooted down in his lap enough to lay her head over his heart. “You’re not very good at these negotiations, Mr. Morgan. You’re supposed to make me work for what I want.”

“That’ll be later,” he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “When the dessert arrives.”

About the Author

Joely Sue Burkhart has always loved heroes who hide behind a mask, the darker and more dangerous the better. Whether cool, sophisticated billionaire, brutal bloodthirsty assassin, or simply a man tortured by his own needs, they all wear masks to protect themselves. Once they finally give you a peek into the passionate, twisted secrets they’re hiding, they always fall hard and fast. Dare to look beneath the mask with delicious BDSM in a wide variety of genres with Joely on her website,
www.joelysueburkhart.com
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Look for these titles by Joely Sue Burkhart

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A Jane Austen Space Opera

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Her Grace’s Stable

Lord Regret’s Price

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A devilish alliance, sparked by imperial blood…

Lord Regret’s Price

© 2013 Joely Sue Burkhart

A Jane Austen Space Opera, Book 3

After weeks of travel, Lord Sigmund Regret’s nerves are frayed. He’s gone too long without a mark, but that’s not the only thing making him edgy. Once the reality of his profession sinks in, he wonders how his Lady Charlotte Wyre will feel when he comes to her bed with fresh blood on his hands.

Of course, the other man in her life adds more stress to an already complicated relationship. Gilead Masters’s needs are so…normal…compared to Sig’s, which leaves Charlotte turning to him to explore her darkening fantasies. Bondage is one thing. But pain? That’s too close to his bloodline’s violent weakness for Sig’s comfort

Charlotte can feel Sig pulling away, but there is no time to heal the rift before they land in Zijin, where she is immediately attacked. Britannia’s reach is long, and Queen Majel’s reach is even deeper—and more deadly. As Imperial politics come to a dangerous boil, Charlotte must risk everything to keep her beloved assassin alive, free, and at her side

Even as he searches for his next mark.

Warning:
Ladies in positions of power, a dragon alien, and a BDSM ménage à trois featuring a duchess on the run, a gentlemanly assassin, and a rough-and-tumble sheriff willing to gun down anyone who gets between him and his lady.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Lord Regret’s Price:

He stripped off his coat and hat and returned to her room. If there wasn’t a rush to escape Zijin space, she’d likely want to do more shopping. He tapped lightly at the door but didn’t hear a reply. It was early for dinner. She surely would have rung for him to join them if they’d gone downstairs.