LOVE AND HATE (A Billionaire Romance) (38 page)

When they finally landed on the drive outside the home in Los Angeles, Claire was awed by the size of the place. “This is your house?” she asked Bryan. “It’s more of a mansion than a house.”

“Well, it isn’t really a mansion based on the actual proportions of the land…okay, it’s big,” he conceded and laughed when he saw the look on Claire’s face.

“Yes it is; no need to play it down,” she told him. “And it is nice.”

“A shame we don’t spend a lot of time in it,” he told them, moving to Willow. “But we have a ton of staff; even a maid if you need one.”

“No, thank you,” Claire grinned, amused at the thought of a random stranger bathing her. “I think I’m capable of washing myself.”

Willow and Bryan laughed as he led them across the marble walkway that led to a front porch that could pass for a courtyard. Inside was no less magnificent, with high vaulted ceilings, huge tapestries that fell to spotless tiles, and marble top counters that reflected the light pouring down from the chandeliers that dotted the ceiling. A pair of staircases went from east to west and wound to the first landing where they came together. Claire’s eyes were wide as she admired the carvings in the wood, the designs on the walls, the crystal, and the gold-plated rails that bordered the stairs. When she reached the landing and looked down, she was breathless.

“So, what do you think?” Bryan asked.

“I’m confused. Why don’t you spend time here? This place is a palace. I feel like I’m missing a crown.”

“They are in those drawers right there,” he said, pointing to her right. “Pick any one you like.”

“Are you kidding me?” she asked him, looking at him to see if he was really serious.

“Yes,” he laughed. “But I am glad you like it. You can have your choice of rooms in either wing. Just tell Mandy, our head of housekeeping, and she will get you all set.”

As if on cue, a middle-aged woman came into view wearing a pale blue and white dress and a bright smile.

Claire pointed to the west wing. “I think I’ll take this side. I don’t want the sun in my eyes first thing in the morning.”

“Good choice,” Bryan confirmed. “Mandy, this is my new stepdaughter. Please, make her feel at home.”

“Right away, sir,” the woman said without batting an eye at Bryan’s words. She gestured for Claire to follow her.

Claire followed her, and even though so much had gone wrong over the last few weeks, at least she could enjoy this experience. The only thing that would make her joy complete was Chance. She had thought about asking Bryan about Chance but decided it might not be appropriate, given their history. But she didn’t have to look for him for too long; he appeared behind her like he had been waiting for her to depart from their parents’ view.

“Claire?”

Claire turned, and when she saw him standing there, his hands deep in his pockets, all her doubts and insecurities vanished. He walked towards her and held his hand out to her.

“It’s all right, Mandy,” he told the woman without looking at her. “I think I’ll give my sister a tour of the property.” He had a mischievous look in his eyes that made Claire’s heart leap.

The woman nodded and moved off. Chance took her hand in his and ushered her to the corridor. The first room he found, he pulled her inside and took full possession of her lips and body. Claire responded to him as they quickly stripped and became entangled in each other’s arms. Chance didn’t waste any time pressing his cock against her pussy, which was wet and ready.

“I’ve missed you so much, baby,” Chance said as he thrust into her repeatedly, moaning and groaning and grabbing on to every part of her body he could.

“You can’t imagine,” Claire said as she took his pounding, willing him to take her harder and faster until she reached orgasm.

“I need you,” Chance said as he grunted and came inside of her, her pussy milking all of him.

***

Claire was giggling when Chance peeked out into the hallway a few minutes later.

“Come on,” he called to her, “before we get caught. Dad has a way of sneaking up on people.”

“Yeah, and I’m sure my mom will come see how I’m settling in,” she said as she smoothed her dress and tucked her hair behind her ears.

“So, which room did you choose?” he asked her. “I’d advise blindly picking one, or this could take the rest of the day.”

“I can imagine,” Claire said. Still, she pushed each door back as she passed until finally she gave up. They all had basically the same décor and furnishings. The only thing different about them was the number on the door. “I guess this helps make it easier to find your way around.”

“Believe me, you will find them useful,” he said with a roll of his eyes.

“Do you have siblings?” she asked as she tried to take in everything.

“None,” Chance responded.

“So how did you survive in these giant mansions as a kid? That must have been lonely.”

“Yep!” he agreed. “Scary, too. But just think about how much bigger it looked as a child. Look on the bright side—my parents gave me anything I wanted to make up for the lack of company and for not being around as much as they should have been. But it wasn’t so bad. I went to boarding school, where I met many children like myself.”

“Sounds like you didn’t have such a happy childhood,” she said.

“Depends on how you define happiness. Money can’t buy everything,” he said as he kissed her. He stroked her face when their lips parted, and he gazed into her eyes. “It certainly didn’t buy you.”

Claire smiled as she glanced down the hall and moved away from Chance. “You’re going to get me in trouble.”

When she got to the next room, she pushed the door in and stepped inside. There was a large canopied bed that would have used up all the space of a regular room. Instead, it disappeared in the vast space and lay underneath a crystal chandelier overhead. There was an oversized vanity chest to its right and in between a path laid with a plush rug. An ottoman stood at the end of the bed, and there were two doors on either side. One of the doors revealed a large bath with all the amenities she would ever need, and the other was a revolving closet whose sterling silver rails dazzled in the full length mirror in the middle of the far wall. There were about ten shelves on the opposite wall and that was certainly too much for the few pairs of shoes Claire owned.

“I’ve never had this much room for anything in my life,” Claire exclaimed as she spun around the closet. “This is crazy!”

“You’ll get used to it. Along with the room you will probably get your own line of credit charged to my father’s account,” he smiled. “Can’t live here and not be flashy.”

“I suppose not,” she murmured. Chance had just pulled her to him and was about to kiss her again when she heard her mother calling from the hallway.

“Shh,” she whispered to Chance. “Stay here.” She dashed from the closet and into the room just as her mother entered.

“Oh, there you are,” she said. “I saw Mandy, but she wasn’t sure which room you had chosen.” Willow examined the room. “This is a fine choice. Is this yours now?”

“Yes, I think I will keep it,” she declared. Willow attempted to enter the closet, but Claire grabbed her by the hand. “Mom, can we do this a little later? I am a bit tired.”

“Okay. I will see you…eventually,” she said as she turned and looked at the room again.

“Bye, Mom,” Claire said as her mother walked her out. She went back into the closet.

“I think there will be a lot more of that in the future,” he said, grabbing her.

“I think you better go before someone else comes looking and discovers us,” she advised. “We will have plenty of time for this later.”

“Just a quick one,” Chance said and lowered his head to nibble her neck.

“Chance,” Claire giggled, trying to stop him, though not very effectively.

“I love the way my name sounds on your lips,” he said as he pulled her dress to her waist. “I can’t help myself.”

“Chance,” Claire said weakly. “You’re going to get us disowned.”

“Not a chance,” he said as he pushed her underwear down; she casually stepped out of them. He pressed up against her and backed her into the wall. He unzipped his fly and released his hard cock. He held her left leg in his arm and raised it to a ninety-degree angle, just wide enough to give him entry into her pussy, and impatiently pushed his cock inside of her.

Claire muffled her screams as Chance slid in and out of her, filling her with his passion. She held his head and brought him in for a kiss, letting her tongue probe the insides of his mouth, urging him on. He worked her pussy with much pressure and pleasure. He gripped her bottom with his left hand, and Claire trembled and jerked as his girth sent warmth through her.

“The things you do to me,” Chance murmured.

Chance held her full weight in his hands, his cock still buried deep within her. The angle gave him greater depth, and he relished in it. Claire locked her legs behind him as he banged her repeatedly against the wall, ravishing her. Soon, Chance shuddered and bucked, and Claire dug into his shoulder as she felt him stiffen and tremble as he climaxed just as she did. He made one last stroke before exiting her warm body and allowing her to stand.

“Chance, you’re going to so get us in trouble,” Claire said, straightening her hair and replacing her underwear.

“I do believe I have reason to come home more often,” he told her. “But for now, I’ll let you settle in. Welcome to our home, sis.”

“Gosh no,” Claire said, smiling. She playfully pushed him towards the door. “I’ll see you later.”

“Sure,” he said as he leaned in for one last kiss.

After he left, she walked over to the bed and fell face down on it, pleasantly surprised when it rose and fell like the ocean. She opened her eyes and ran her hands over the quilted surface. It was warm and so posh. She’d had a long day, and coupled with the orgasms Chance had given her, her body was ready to sleep. The next time she was aware of herself, she had woken up to darkness but had quickly fallen back to sleep.

Over the next couple of days, she saw Chance regularly; he would sneak into her room late at night and would remain there until she fell asleep. She never woke with him, largely because as soon as the sun came over the horizon, the house staff was present in the hallways. Claire could tell the housekeeping staff took great pride in their work, and although no one was particularly untidy, it seemed they took meticulous care to maintain cleanliness.

It wasn’t until about the third week of living in the mansion that Claire realized Chance’s visits had grown more infrequent. The first week, he came to see her around midnight every night. Now, he was barely around her, and worst of all, she could never catch him during the day to ask him what was going on.

She sat in the drawing room one afternoon when she saw him come in. She opened her mouth to call to him when she heard laughing and talking. He hadn’t seen her, so she kept herself hidden. She saw him enter, and right on his heels were two girls. One of them seemed more forward, standing directly in front of him as she spoke, as if she wanted to kiss him. They shared an intimacy Claire found unnerving. He laughed with her and moved a wisp of hair from her face, just like he had Claire’s countless times. Claire stared at them, unable to figure out what was happening. The other girl got on her tip toes and whispered something in his ear, and she pinched his ass and giggled. Chance smiled and held her hand, whispering to her as well, before they moved on.

She sat in the drawing room long after they were gone, her heart beating like crazy. She tried to focus and make sense of what was going on, but all her mind could do was conjure images of Trent with that woman in the hallway. Chance was no different than Trent, and she had been stupid again, falling for a man who didn’t want anything more than sex from her. Enough was enough. She couldn’t torture herself any longer over men like Trent and Chance.

She clutched her chest and raced up the stairs, barely feeling the ground beneath her feet. She got to her room and pushed the door open, closing it so she could fall against it as her chest heaved and tightened. She felt like she was suffocating, and thoughts of what Chance might be doing with the girls brought on extreme rage and jealousy. She had been a fool to think Chance would stay with her, and she cursed herself for her blind stupidity. She did the one thing she knew how to; she stripped, filled her bath with water, and sank deep into it in an attempt to drown the pain. She was really stupid! Chance was a billionaire’s son, an heir to so much money he could buy all the women on the planet. Why did she think she was any different than other girls? Yes, she was his stepsister but that was where it ended. Chance was never going to see her as much more than a girl he could fuck whenever he wanted.

Being alone did nothing for her confused mind and spirit in turmoil, and she cried as she sat there. The pain she felt was raw, and she felt utterly useless in trying to escape it. A half an hour later, and in just her robe, she lay on the bed and waited to fall asleep. It was slow in coming, but soon she fell into a troubled sleep. When she woke again, it was night. She lay there in the dark for a considerable time, not feeling the urge for food or company. At midnight, as with every other night, she was awake, waiting to see if Chance would stop by and tell her what was going on. And like so many nights of late, Chance didn’t come to her.