The Billionaire's Unwanted Virgin
By: Doris O ConnorA brief smile crossed his forbidding expression, and he, too, took a step back, much to her relief.
"Stop looking at me as though I'm going to pounce on you. Percy tells me you wanted to get this over with, so here I am, little Alice."
Alice had to remind herself to keep breathing.
"You're Zeb?"
If anything he looked even more menacing at her whispered question.
"No, Zeb was my brother." He shook his head, and his lips tightened into a cruel twist. A chill of foreboding sent an icy tendril up her spine, and she couldn't suppress the shudder that went through her as his hard eyes connected with hers.
"I'm afraid my brother's foolishness killed him, so whatever little game you're trying to pull, you've just run out of luck, little Alice, because I seem to have inherited you."
Chapter Two
"I am so sorry for your loss."
The whispered words kicked him in the gut and knocked the wind out of him. He'd expected drama and tears, not this quiet statement. Her hand went out as if to touch him, but she seemed to think better of it, when her tear-stained eyes sought his. He braced himself for the histrionics that were sure to follow, but she surprised him again. She blinked the tears away, straightened her shoulders, and offered him a weak smile.
"I shan't intrude on your time any longer then. If you can just call me a taxi to take me to the nearest train station I'll make my own way home." She didn't look at him as she mumbled the words, looking fragile enough at this moment for a gust of wind to knock her over. She wasn't small by any means, but even so, in her flat sandals, her head would fit just nicely under his chin. In heels she would be the perfect height for him to kiss her without him having to stoop too low.
Lakota shook his head in annoyance. Where the hell had that thought come from? The mention of Zeb had addled his brain. That and her unexpected demeanor. He'd had no intention of actually meeting the woman who'd sold her virginity to the highest bidder, not after he'd seen her picture. The online picture that had so obviously ensnared his brother to spend Lakota's money had left him cold. Just another money grabbing female, who used her body to get what she wanted. Even after Percy had run a thorough back ground check on Miss Alice Wanderlund with surprising results, according to his man, he'd refused to read the thick file Percy had passed him.
"Just deal with it. Pay her off and make sure she won't talk, Percy. I don't need the scandal right now, as you well know. I have more important things to consider."
"Naturally, Sir, but for now we should keep to the terms of the bid. I would suggest inviting her to your county house, so we can form a plan of action, and keep her out of the limelight."
As much as Lakota hated the thought of such an obvious strumpet invading his privacy, he could see the sense behind Percy's suggestion.
"Do whatever is necessary. Just keep her away from me. I've had enough of money-grabbing whores to last me a lifetime. I just need her not to talk. Up the payment if you need to."
Percy had nodded in understanding.
"I'm not sure paying her off would necessarily ensure she'd keep quiet. There is only so much I can do, and it would leave you open to further blackmail. It's a shame you're not marrying her. Now that would ensure I could button her down so tight she couldn't even breathe without your knowledge, Sir." There had been an odd twinkle in Percy's eyes when he'd made that outrageous statement. "And you do need to marry, so this would be killing two birds with one stone."
"I'm not that desperate that I would pay a whore to marry me, Percy."
"Well, strictly speaking this one is a virgin, so—"
Lakota had cut the other man's fanciful notions off with an impatient shake of his hand. Percy had taken the hint and made a hasty retreat.
Lakota scowled at the woman trying to get past him now.
"Don't be ridiculous. You are not leaving."
She visibly startled and took several steps backward until the low wall of the fountain stopped her. She stumbled, and Lakota's reflexes kicked in. He grabbed her ‘round the waist before she could end up in the fountain. Her soft curves collided with his body, and her sweet, slightly flowery scent filled his nostrils. She smelled of lemon, and a faint trace of what had to be toothpaste, as her breath whooshed out of her lungs. None of the cloying perfumes and artful make-up tricks he was used to from the women in his acquaintance were in residence here. With her breasts squashed against his chest, and her little hands curled around his biceps, he was far too aware that she was all woman, however, under that ridiculous cover up she'd chosen to wear. The slight tremble that went through her raised his protective instincts, and when she wriggled against him in a seeming effort to free herself, he hardened against his will.
