One Night for Love (11 page)

“Yes,” Prim said, her voice soft. She toyed with the bracelet on her wrist. “A real win for everyone.” Her gaze locked with his. She placed a smile on her mouth, but happiness didn’t reach her eyes. “We’ll pretend what we have is real.”

“I knew you’d agree. Perfect solution, right?” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a black velvet case. Prim’s eyes widened and her lips turned down with the presentation of the ring box. She lifted the lid. He’d done a bang-up job with the ring. Gone all out.

She lifted the diamond from the velvet.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. Her gaze met his and her eyes, her eyes, held … was that sadness that he saw? “You want us to pretend to be engaged? For this deal?”

“It solves everything doesn’t it? He won’t bother you again and we get the Flixster deal.” He reached out and plucked the ring from Prim’s hand. “Here, let me.” He slipped the ring onto Prim’s slim finger.

His heart beat faster in his chest. Putting this ring upon Prim’s hand felt so right, so perfect. He looked into her eyes. Should he ever decide to marry, ever believe that he could marry, he hoped to find such a woman as Prim.

“It’s gorgeous,” Prim whispered.

“Thank you,” Tristan said. “I have a jeweler I like.”

“If I do this,” Prim whispered, her gaze leaving the glittering ring and locking with his, “pretend that we’re engaged, then I need something from you.”

Tristan’s eyes met Prim’s.

“I want you to consider keeping Metro Media whole.”

“I’ve decided nothing, I—”

“Our deal includes honesty. Maybe you haven’t completely decided, but I know your intention is to sell of Metro piece by piece. It’s what you do with every company you buy.”

He had no defense; she was correct on every count.

“I can’t dictate what you do with Metro, but I want you to really consider maintaining the company as is, with employees, with offices, with Metro Media as you found it but getting better each day under your leadership.”

Tristan shifted in his chair. He didn’t want to lead or get attached. He was an opportunist, not a leader.

“Give Metro a fair chance. Don’t assume that the best thing for you, is to butcher the company.”

She asked for much less than she could have.

“Deal,” Tristan said.

He turned toward the darkening sky outside the window. His eyes would betray him. He wanted her. On this night, seeing the ring on her finger, he actually wanted Prim to be his permanently, and that most definitely wasn’t part of their deal.

*

Prim had visited a number of billionaires’ homes and she wasn’t easily impressed; however, Roger Macon’s estate set in the hills of Napa stole her breath. The home looked as though it had been brought stone by stone across the ocean from Tuscany and built upon a hill in Northern California.

“It’s spectacular,” Prim whispered.

“Well, of course,” Tristan said. He tugged at his cuffs and seemed immune to the show of wealth. Or perhaps irritated by it.

They entered the home and were escorted to the back. A giant terrace overlooked the estate. A fire in the stone fireplace warmed the outdoor seating area. A selection of cheeses and breads and wine was on the table. Prim ignored it all. She sat beside the fire and relaxed back onto the outdoor couch. Unaccustomed to the weight on her usually bare ring finger, she glanced at her left hand. Fire sparkled in the beautiful stone, the glitter brilliant and enticing.

“It’s a beautiful setting, isn’t it?” Tristan asked.

She was aware of Tristan’s nearness. Her skin tingled with his presence. Her body seemed to have a sixth sense with regards to Tristan and his proximity.

“It’s a design I thought you’d appreciate.”

Prim held out her hand and examined the cut and the layout of the ring.

“This is identical to my grandmother’s ring,” Prim said. Her eyes looked up at Tristan. “But how could you possibly know?”

“Money buys a great number of things. You come from a well-known family. My jeweler knows your father’s jeweler. A little research, some money, and well …” Tristan smiled and nodded toward the ring. “You see the results.”

She did. The tear in her heart that had started on the plane ripped wider. Not only did she see the results, but she also knew, beyond any shadow of doubt, what her and Tristan’s arrangement meant to him. Business. Their arrangement, as it was when they originally agreed, was business. Nothing more. She pressed her lips tight and for a brief moment closed her eyes. Emotions cascaded through her. Tristan’s feelings hadn’t grown or changed in the weeks they’d been together. In fact, what they’d both hoped for, that this passion would burn out, had actually happened for him. Otherwise how could he possibly place an engagement ring on her finger and feel nothing?

She felt it all. The heartache. The want. The pain. The frustration over dancing too close to the fire and now getting burned. This was her own damned fault.

“Oh, princess.” Tristan walked to her with a smile carving across his face. “I see the fear building in your eyes.” His hand grasped her chin. “Don’t worry, I have every intention of releasing you back into the world after our three months. I simply thought that this”—his other hand lifted her ring finger—“would help us close the deal.”

Prim’s heart snapped closed.

“Tristan!” Roger exited the French doors onto the deck and held out his hand. “And Prim, my darling, I was thrilled when Tristan said yes to my suggestion that you come too.”

Roger wrapped his arms around Prim and hugged her close. She could smell the whiskey already on him, his eyes a bit red-rimmed.

“So what do you think, Prim?” Roger steered her to the balcony rail. “What do you think of my little kingdom on a hill?” He turned to her and his gaze latched onto hers. “All it needs is a queen.”

Prim glanced over her shoulder to Tristan. An I-told-you-so sort of smile played along his lips. Pain thrashed against her ribs as her heart ripped wider. This was all a game, a business game, in which Tristan would do anything to win.

“It’s spectacular,” Prim said. She eased a smile upon her face. “I can’t really make it out—is that the ocean in the distance?” Prim lifted her left hand and pointed. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Roger’s eyes lock on the brilliant bauble on her hand.

He cleared his throat. “Yes, yes it is.” He took one step from her side. “Prim, it seems you have most excellent news since last we were together?”

Prim creased her eyebrows, playing surprise and a lack of understanding.

“You’ve become … engaged?” Roger nodded toward her hand, which she had placed on her cheek for maximum effect.

“Oh this! Yes, Roger, yes! But I thought you knew? I certainly thought that Tristan would have told you.”

“Tristan?” Roger’s eyes glanced from Prim to Tristan, who stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Prim’s waist.

While they were playing pretend, the heat mixed with pain that shot through Prim with Tristan’s touch was real. So real.

“I had no idea. Fantastic news. You must let me break out some of our champagne.” He waved toward the door where a member of his staff waited. “How long has this been going on? You two have certainly kept this quiet.”

“We met at Meg and Cole’s wedding last year,” Tristan said.

Prim’s eyes widened. Had Tristan been at Meg and Cole’s wedding? Quite possibly. The guest list had been immense, and she would have had no reason to pay any attention to Tristan Rhodes.

“Yes, yes we did. It’s not been much of a secret really, more us being discreet until we simply couldn’t contain it any longer.”

“Your engagement certainly explains a great deal,” Roger said. Surprise and even hints of irritation slid from his face to create what seemed to be honest relief. “I had no idea, Prim, all this time we’ve been discussing the deal, that you were actually … involved.”

“We didn’t say much of anything to anyone until recently.”

Roger’s butler returned with a silver tray containing three flutes filled with champagne.

“To Prim and Tristan,” Roger said. His mouth turned up into a smile. “And to Metro Media and Flixster. May both unions prosper.”

“Cheers,” Prim said.

The deal was closed. She felt the finality of this moment in her bones. Tristan had been right. Roger had wanted another shot with her. His belief that she was engaged to Tristan gave him an easy explanation as to her continued disinterest in his overtures. The giant ring on her left hand had made Roger’s healthy but bruised ego whole. Roger could now explain away why his nine months of overtures to Prim had been rebuffed.

“You are a very lucky man, Tristan.” Roger took a long breath and eyed Prim.

She shivered beneath his gaze.

“Yes,” Tristan said. “I am a very lucky man.” He took a drink of champagne. “Roger, thank you for the hospitable welcome and the champagne. Really everything. Should we sign our documents now?”

“Let’s do,” Roger said. He clasped Tristan on the shoulder and both men walked into the house.

Prim stood on the balcony. Pain flowed through her. She was a big fool to let herself believe that she could have sex with the same man for three months and feel nothing for him. She was an even bigger fool to think that a man like Tristan would, after a business agreement, feel something for her. She felt everything and he felt nothing.

Wasn’t that a helluva deal?

Silence accompanied them on the flight and then the car ride to Tristan’s home. Once inside, Prim stood absorbed the view of the Pacific. Tristan walked to her, then stood close. The heat still pulled between them. They had so little time left together and their feelings were so far apart. Yet there was still passion. Even in her heartbreak there was desire for Tristan, perhaps an even deeper desire, because now there was no doubt that at the end of their agreement their relationship would be no more.

Tristan placed his thumb on her lips and she opened her mouth. His eyes watched her. With his other hand, he cupped her breast. Heat pooled within her. He pressed his hand into her shirt and caressed her nipple. She closed her eyes. The sensation of his hands on her body thrilled her. He let go of her and clasped her fingertips and walked her to his bedroom.

Prim walked to the window. Again the infinite ocean on the other side of the glass. Tristan walked up behind her. The heat of him, the crackle of energy that lit between them, a wire and unprotected charge. She felt the heat even before he touched her. Then his hands skimmed up the side of her, barely touching her body. He brushed away her hair from her neck and his lips pressed to her flesh.

“Prim, after tonight you’ve earned the right to keep that ring,” he murmured between kisses.

Her heart fluttered. What? Was he? Could he be? She turned to him and met his gaze.

“Consider it a bonus for a job well done.” His fingers stroked up her body.

The final rip tore through her heart. No. Tristan thought of their agreement in the same way he had when they’d begun their affair eleven weeks before. But she didn’t. Everything had changed for her. Everything. But you couldn’t change a deal once the papers were signed. She wasn’t about to blame Tristan for what was her own fault. She’d let herself fall in love.

His hand again cupped her breast and she closed her eyes. She would be with him. She wanted to be with Tristan. She would enjoy him for the moments that were left. She would use everything she knew about Metro to convince him to keep the company. Then she would leave, as they had agreed in the beginning.

He pulled her shirt from the waistband of her skirt. Her fingers wove through his thick hair, and he unzipped her skirt and let it fall to her feet. He removed her shirt and now she stood before him, as she had so many times, in only her underwear and bra. Couldn’t he see it? Couldn’t he tell a difference? That her heart had broken open for him? Wasn’t it obvious to the entire world that she’d found someone to love?

His hands ran over her belly and his fingers slid down into the trimmed curls above her sex. His touch delved farther between the top of her swollen lips. His touch was magic to her body. His lips worked her neck and his hand traveled from one breast to the other. He turned her and his lips were on her nipple. He pulled her taut flesh into the heat of his mouth and suckled her breast. Prim’s head dropped back. His hand flirted around her sex. Then he lifted her and placed her on his bed.

He removed his pants and his shirt. She lay on the bed and didn’t move, as he’d commanded her. She lay there and watched his magnificent body become exposed to her, slowly and with intent. Once he was naked, her hips rolled up even without his touch, a response to seeing his long, thick, hard cock that gave her so much pleasure. Pleasure her body remembered and wanted now.

He pressed his body next to hers. He surrounded her. He gently plucked her nipple with his fingers. Then he bent forward and pulled her nipple into the heat of his mouth. Her hips thrust up toward him. Her sex clenched. Her hands grasped him. She wanted him in her mouth. She wanted him to feel the pleasures he gave her over and over again.

She rolled forward onto her knees and moved toward him. His giant cock was right before her. She licked her lips. Her hand stroked down his shaft and he shuddered with her touch. Through her eyelashes, she gazed up at him. His body was rigid with want, his face shadowed with lust. She opened her mouth and took the tip of him between her lips. She took her other hand and cupped his balls.

His hand found its way to the top of her head where his fingertips rubbed through her hair. She removed the tip of him from her mouth and her tongue stroked down his entire shaft. The length, the width. How might she take all of him into her mouth? She kneeled higher and opened her lips, then pressed her mouth down over his entire shaft with a long sucking that pulled upward.

“Fuck, Prim,” he said. His body clutched and his muscles tightened.

She pulled up and down with her lips. Her mouth moved faster and faster, pulling harder and harder. Tristan’s hips rocked forward and back, forward and back, his restraint obvious with his clenched belly and the hiss of air over his teeth. There was more power he wanted to release. Prim held on to his cock and pulled him toward her as she lay back onto the bed. His eyes wanted her in this new position. He was now over her in the perfect angle to fuck her mouth.