Identity Risk (The Billionaire Experience #3)

Chapter Eleven

Mac tossed his bag onto the bed and sighed. He glanced around his hotel room in Detroit. It was nice enough, but nothing about it felt right. How could it, after the night he’d just spent with Jessie? Leaving her had been one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do, and that was saying something for a former Navy SEAL. But here he was, hundreds of miles away on a business trip that came at the worst possible time.

Waking up with Jessie in his arms had been perfect, and he wanted to wake up like that every morning.

He stood and walked over to the window that looked out over the City of Detroit, trying to burn the memory of their night together in his brain.

Fuck! He wanted to be with her now.

Three days , he muttered to himself. It was only three days, but it still felt too long. He couldn’t wait to get back to her.

He frowned as his thoughts went back to the morning. He could tell something had been bothering her, even though she tried to hide it behind her beautiful smile. He understood the shock and awe of last night’s events. However, he hoped that by the time he returned in three days, she’d be ready to talk about it. They’d already been through so much—there was no need for secrets anymore.

Before he left, he’d made sure to leave her a little surprise at the penthouse, hoping it would bring a smile to her face. He hoped she’d like it, but knowing Jessie, it wasn’t about the gift itself—it was the thought that would mean the most to her.

As Mac began to unpack, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and a smile tugged the corners of his mouth when he saw Jessie’s name.

Jessie: Thank you for the flowers. They’re perfect, especially the blue roses. You know just how to make me smile.

He quickly typed his reply and set his phone down.

Mac: You deserve them, beautiful. Can’t wait to see that smile again.

He grinned when the buzzed again. But when he opened her next message, his grin quickly turned into something else altogether when he saw the picture she’d sent.

The photo of Jessie lounging in a tub full of bubbles, her legs propped up in the water, with candles in the background, made his heart skip a beat. Seriously, he felt like one of those funny cartoon characters looking like his heart was literally beating out of his chest and his eyes looking like little fucking hearts.

Glancing at the picture again, he felt his cock stir in his pants.

Then he read her message.

Jessie: Already missing you. Maybe next time you can join me.

Mac exhaled sharply, shaking his head, a mix of laughter and desire filling him. The little minx knew exactly how to get under his skin.

He quickly fired off a reply.

Mac: I miss you too, sunshine. You definitely deserve that soak after our adventures last night.

But just when he thought she was done, another message came through. This one left little to the imagination. His pulse quickened at her teasing note.

Jessie: I think this bath would be better with you here… supervising.

Mac leaned back on the bed, staring at his phone, heat rising in his chest. This woman was going to be the death of him. She was playing with fire, and she knew it.

Jessie always had a way of keeping him on his toes, but this was a new level of playful teasing. He wasn’t complaining because he loved it. And three days from now, she’d get what was coming to her. Funishment , as he liked to call it, was about to take on a whole new meaning.

◆◆◆

Rain pattered gently against the large windows of Jessie’s penthouse. The soft, steady rhythm was a comforting backdrop to her quiet evening.

She was curled up on her sofa with a cozy blanket draped over her legs as she tried to lose herself in a new wolf-shifter romance that had been downloaded.

She shifted, sinking deeper into the cushions. She had hoped that a new book would help take her mind off Mac. But it was hard when the hero in the book was strong and protective, like Mac.

Jessie let out a soft sigh, closing her e-reader. She stared out at the rain-soaked city below.

Ever since she’d gotten home a few hours ago, her mind had been consumed by the memory of their night together. Every detail of him—his touch, his voice, the way he’d looked at her like she was the only woman in the world—played over and over in her head.

Earlier, once she felt a little more settled, she took some time to sit down and really think through the questions that had kept her awake at night. She knew Mac would give her the time that she asked for. But she also knew that he wasn’t the most patient man and that if she took too long before confiding in him, he would find ways to force it out of her.

But it wouldn’t come to that because it had only taken her a few minutes before she realized that she was foolish for letting her fears get the best of her in regard to her safety.

She knew without a doubt that Mac would never allow what happened a year and a half ago to happen again.

As for their professional lives, that was a subject she and Mac would have to discuss when he returned from his business trip.

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She missed him already. She missed his laugh, his teasing, and the way his strong arms wrapped around her like nothing in the world could ever hurt her.

She could survive three days without him—at least, she hoped she could—but it wasn’t going to be easy. Especially with the way her body still hummed with the memory of his touch.

Jessie smiled to herself, shaking her head. She was being ridiculous. But then again, when it came to Mac, it was hard not to feel this way.

Her phone started to ring, and she thought it was Lacie calling to get the scoop on her date. But to her surprise, it was Andy, the doorman from downstairs.

“Hello?” she answered, curious as to why he was calling.

“Hello, Ms. Marchand. I have a flower delivery down here for you.”

“Flowers?”

“Yes, ma’am. A very large but beautiful arrangement. Would you like me to have the concierges bring it up to you?”

“That will work. Thank you, Andy.”

“You’re welcome, Ms. Marchand. I’ll send them up now.”

She disconnected the call and set the phone on the table.

She stood up and walked over to the elevator. She wondered who had sent her flowers. Everyone who knew her knew that she couldn’t keep flowers alive. Houseplants, yes. But flowers? No.

Moments later, the elevator dinged, and when the doors opened, Jessie’s breath caught in her throat.

As soon as she saw the rare blue roses scattered amongst the white lilies, she knew Mac had sent them. Blue roses were their thing.

She told the concierge to set them in the kitchen on the island.

Once the concierge left, Jessie walked over and pulled out the card.

Jessie,

Thank you for a beautiful night together. I’m so sorry I had to leave. I promise I’ll make it up to you. Remember to behave yourself, and I’ll see you in a few days.

Mac

Her heart skipped a beat, and she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. Despite everything, he still made her feel like a giddy teenager.

The flowers were a sweet gesture, but now they only made her miss him more. She looked at the card and reread it. This time, she focused on the words “remember to behave yourself.” It was then she recalled his parting words to her earlier before he left—his possessive, teasing claim that nobody was allowed to touch her intimate parts but him, not even herself . His playful dominance was something that drove her crazy in the best way.

With a mischievous grin, an idea formed in her mind. She was going to make sure he remembered exactly what he was missing. She pulled one of the blue roses from the arrangement and walked into the bathroom. She started filling her large jacuzzi tub, adding bubbles until they overflowed. She lit a bunch of white candles and arranged them around the tub, giving the room a romantic glow.

She ran back out to the living room, grabbed her phone off the table, and quickly ran back to the bathroom.

She slipped her clothes off, and then before she got into the tub, she texted Mac.

Jessie: Thank you for the flowers. They’re perfect, especially the blue roses. You know just how to make me smile.

Seconds later, her phone buzzed with his reply.

Mac: You deserve them, beautiful. Can’t wait to see that smile again.

Her heart fluttered at his sweet words, but she wasn’t done yet. Slipping into the warm, bubbly water, Jessie propped her legs up, her freshly painted toenails poking through the foam. She snapped a picture of her legs and feet, making sure the setting looked just right, then sent it to Mac with a playful message.

Jessie: Already missing you. Maybe you can join me next time?

His response was almost instant.

Mac: I miss you too, sunshine. You definitely deserve that soak after our adventures last night.

Jessie giggled, feeling emboldened. She decided to take it a step further, snapping a picture of her chest, just enough skin peeking out through the bubbles to tease him. She attached the photo with another message.

Jessie: I think this bath would be better if you were here to… supervise.

Mac's reply came quickly, laced with playful danger.

Mac: You’re playing with fire, Jessie. You know exactly what’s going to happen when I get back if you keep teasing me like this.

Her pulse quickened, but she wasn’t done teasing him yet. Grinning, she took one last picture, this time spreading the delicate blue rose petals across her chest, artfully covering her breasts, and sent it with a sultry message.

Jessie: Just wanted to remind you what’s waiting for you. Think you can handle it?

His response made her laugh and sent a thrill of anticipation through her.

Mac: Oh, I can handle it. But you should start preparing for the punishment you’ve got coming. And by punishment, I mean the kind you’ll be begging me for more of. You like your funishments, don’t you?

Her cheeks flushed as her thoughts drifted to his return. She could see it now—Mac, with that wicked, sexy grin of his, as he made good on his promise. The idea of his version of punishment sent a shiver of excitement through her. She could already imagine the sensual tension between them. He’d make her wait and tease her, driving her wild until finally giving in to what they both wanted.

When his final message came through, it left her speechless.

Mac: You should rest up, sunshine. Because when I get back, there won’t be any more bubbles between us... just you, me, and that body of yours I know so well. Hope you’ve got the stamina

Jessie stared at the phone, her playful confidence momentarily faltering as a breathless laugh escaped her. Stamina , she thought. Three days couldn’t pass fast enough.