The Billionaires’ Prize (The Heiress Merger #2)

23. Kingston

23

KINGSTON

Katherine looks so sexy in nothing but a lacy bra and the raspberry-colored vibe I picked up today. Sitting on the polished marble countertop, back arched, she’s straight out of my fantasies. Phone in hand, I’m ready to drive her wild. Or at least, test this little toy out and tease her a bit.

She lets out a shuddering sigh and nods her head.

I press a kiss to her forehead. “My brave girl.”

As soon as I hit the on button, she sucks in a sharp breath.

“Is it on?” I ask because I don’t hear anything, which is good to know.

“Mmhmm.”

I back away so I can enjoy the view. God, she’s a sight. That gorgeous hair in long waves around her shoulders, pert little nipples pressed against the straining lace, the long, lean line of her body shaking with need. The dark pink vibe snug between her pussy’s lips.

I study the controls and then turn it up a little. Her fingers tighten over the edge of the countertop until her knuckles are white.

“More?” I ask.

She nods.

I turn on the clit stimulator, and her gorgeous body convulses.

“Oh!” Her head drops back. “Mmm.”

As soon as her belly quivers, I hit the off button. Her chin drops, and her eyelids snap open.

“You’re not going to let me finish?” She gives me a sharp look. Her cheeks are flushed, as is her chest.

Under other circumstances, I’d feel bad. But not today. This is about her pleasure. Taking her on an adventure.

I stalk the two steps across the bathroom and lean over her, kissing her frown away. “Not yet. Go get dressed, gorgeous.”

I’ve always been impressed with Katherine’s poise, and I’ve told her as much. But there’s something extra alluring about watching her strut across a parking deck in a stunning sundress, knowing the vibrator I bought her is nestled inside her delicious little cunt.

Roman flanks her other side, ever alert. I’m equally aware but only focused on the woman holding my hand. I give her a reassuring squeeze, and she smiles up at me. The tightness in my chest eases, but I have no idea why I’m tense in the first place.

Desire? Excitement? Anticipation?

Probably all of the above.

The air is heavy with the scent of exhaust, rubber, and grease, but there’s also a lovely note of Katherine’s perfume. Slightly floral, crisp apple, and fresh like spring, with some softness to make it seductive.

I wrap an arm around her waist, pull her against my side, and lean into her, taking a deep breath. She wraps an arm around my waist and settles her other hand against my abs as she gives a husky laugh.

“You smell amazing,” I murmur.

“Thank you.”

Since she pushed me down to the edge of her tub and made me watch as she got dressed, I know every place she dabbed that exquisite perfume.

Behind her ears. The inside of her wrists. And fuck me, her ankles. And damned if she wasn’t staring into my eyes as she did it, knowing full well what sort of ideas that was going to give me.

I don’t know exactly where this vixen has been hiding or where she learned these tricks, but I’m here for them.

I’m here for everything with her.

Need burns through my chest, and I’m thoroughly tempted to tell my parents that something came up and toss Katherine over my shoulder. This is exactly where I was meant to be and who I was meant to be with. Life finally feels full.

But before my more mischievous side can have its way, Roman does a quick sweep of the SUV and then ushers us inside.

Wildfire perches on the edge of the seat, working out how to sit with a vibe pressed against her clit. Her eyes widen as she turns, swinging her legs into the vehicle.

I worry my lower lip and my pulse picks up in speed. I promised no funny business in the car where Roman could witness her squirm. But apparently, she’s so turned on by our play earlier that her own movements are taking her breath away.

This thing is worth every penny.

I lean closer. “You okay?”

She tugs on her seatbelt and clicks it into place. “Yeah.”

That one little word is breathless.

Smiling to myself, I close the door and then circle to the other side, sliding in next to her.

I fasten my seatbelt as Roman gets behind the wheel, and then we’re off, navigating the labyrinth before finally, blessedly, arriving at street level.

“How was your day? Did you make it to the park?” Katherine asks.

“I did.” I met up with the friend who introduced me to the movement artist lifestyle. Parkour was my first love, but this is forever.

He was the one who showed me the ropes of finding the amazing photos that delight and sometimes confuse viewers. Through him, I learned to see the world as a playground and not just an obstacle course.

I pull my phone from my pocket and open today’s photo album. She swipes through a bunch of photos of me scaling light poles and walls, perching on pylons like I’m the Karate Kid.

The vehicle merges into traffic.

“We had a good time.” It was nice to be out in the fresh air, moving my body. In the middle of Central Park, I can almost forget that I’m surrounded by buildings and ambition. Elevators and windowless rooms.

“I like this one.” She angles the screen toward me, showing the picture of me upside down in an archway.

“Yeah, can you believe I was exactly the right height for that shot?” My feet touch the stones along the top of the arch, my head is on the ground, and for the split second it took to take the picture, my arms are crossed over my chest.

I love gravity defying shots.

“You always find the most interesting—” As she hands my phone back, the back right tire hits a hole in the road, jostling us.

She gives a soft gasp, then shifts her hips around on the leather seat. Licking her lips, she sends me a surprised look.

“Everything okay?” I murmur, but I have a good idea of what’s happening.

That bump knocked the vibe around just enough to tease her. To press against her clit and slide deeper into her pretty pussy.

She squirms again, and my cock hardens in my slacks, wishing that she was squirming that sexy little ass on him.

I show her the phone, where it’s still displaying the picture of me on my head. “I didn’t touch a thing, Wildfire.”

I unclip my seatbelt and slide across the seat, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. There’s no way I’m breaking my promise to her, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make her comfortable.

“I know,” she murmurs, leaning into the circle of my arms.

Does she feel that? How amazing it is to be connected like this? To finally stop denying the pull between us?

Of course she does. She was ready for it years ago. Smart girl.

I lower my lips to the shell of her ear. She shivers against me and my heart knocks around in my chest like a pinball. “Do you need something, sweetheart?”

Her chest rises and falls beneath the modest bodice, but her nipples poke against the soft fabric. Needy little things.

I wish we were in a proper limo with a partition so I could give those sensitive little buds the attention they deserve. Unfortunately, limos garner too much attention.

“We’re here,” Roman’s voice cuts through my lust, and the car slows.

Katherine holds her chin high as we approach the front door of my parent’s brownstone, but I can tell her knees are a little less stable than normal. I keep my hand pressed against her lower back, offering support.

There’s no way around it. This is momentous. I’ve never brought anyone home that I wanted to keep. I’ve brought friends. I’ve even brought Katherine many times but as a friend. This is special. And I’ve gotta play it cool.

We haven’t discussed what to tell anyone, and I’m not sure what we’d say. I’ve finally given in to my feelings for my best friend, but she’s also dating these two other guys.

My finger’s still on the antique doorbell when the door opens, golden light pouring out.

“Kingston!” My name bursts from my mother’s lips. “Katherine. Look at you.”

She reaches for Katherine’s hands, her keen gaze surveying the sundress. It’s a colorful print on a white background, the pattern thicker at the bottom of the skirt and around the bodice. Colorful shapes and swirls, bold leaves, and a smattering of polka dots. The pink cardigan wrapped around her shoulders adds an elegant touch.

“This is gorgeous. Isn’t she gorgeous, King?”

She glances over at me, and that’s when she notices my hand is still nestled against Katherine’s back.

“It’s stunning,” I agree. “But we both know that the woman makes the dress.”

“Mmm. . .” She reaches for me, pressing a kiss against my cheek. “Such a charmer. Come in. Come in.”

“You’ve got to let them through the door, dear,” my father says, his blue eyes watching my mom.

As soon as we’re in the foyer with the door closed, Mom sweeps Katherine into a hug. I don’t have to see her expression to know how much my mother’s embrace means to her. Mom has always been a touchy-feely person. The opposite of Katherine’s upbringing.

She wraps her arms around my mother, melting into her hug, a happy little hum on her lips. “It’s so good to see you both. It’s been too long.”

“You know whose fault that is.” My mother shoots me a disapproving look as if I was holding Katherine hostage.

But I’m not going to throw Katherine in front of the bus.

Their butler takes Katherine’s purse, and Mom shepherds us into the salon.

“What would you like to drink, dear?” she asks. “Still a chardonnay fan?”

“Yes, please.”

I ask for a beer because I need to keep my head tonight.

As always, their home is warm and inviting. Lots of lamps. A mix of priceless and inexpensive art. A collection of antiques and stylish new pieces.

Best of all, there are plenty of windows. I’ve always felt at home here, like I can relax and breathe.

We settle onto one of the sofas flanking the fireplace. Katherine perches on the middle cushion across from my parents.

That’s new. Normally, she sits at one end, and I sit at the other. But now she’s close enough to touch. I guess we’re doing this.

I drape my arm over the back cushion behind her, and of course, their eyes follow the movement.

“So, how have you been? I loved that new lip gloss you released in the fall,” Katherine says to my dad.

He smiles. The cosmetics arm of the company is one of the oldest in the world, and Katherine’s worn nothing else since a horrible bout with teenaged acne.

“We love to hear that. It’s been a top seller,” Dad says, lounging back, gin and tonic in hand.

“That’s because you unlocked the magical combination of super shiny gloss without being sticky. It’s all us girls have ever wanted.”

Dad chuckles, no doubt tickled to have Katherine’s endorsement.

I, on the other hand, want to see her in this magical gloss. What would it look like on my cock?

Nope. Back up. Not thinking about such things right now.

The butler returns with our drinks, and I relish the icy liquid sliding down my throat. Katherine takes an eager sip as Mom fills us in on their latest trip to see her side of the family in Italy. They’ve had the travel bug since before I was born, which is probably where I get it from. Not for the first time, I question my decision to walk away from Katherine.

I glance over, and our eyes lock.

“Do we have time before dinner for me to show Katherine the new garden?”

My mother’s in love with the new rooftop sanctuary and beams at the question. “Of course! Go on up.”

I finish my beer in one long sip and set the bottle on a coaster. Standing, I offer Katherine a hand.

She presses her knees together, and I pull her to her feet. In my pocket, I swipe my thumb across the screen of my phone, anticipation thrumming through me. She offers my parents a tight-lipped smile, but I doubt they see a difference. I do.

My gut tightens as we head into the foyer and move past the staircase.

“We can take the stairs,” she whispers.

If there was ever a sign that she’s perfect for me, this is it. “You’re willing to walk up five flights of stairs in those heels?” I ask, but I’m not looking at her cute little slingbacks. I’m focused on her hips and those thighs that I’m sure are squeezed together.

“Of course.” Her voice is high, but she’s being perfectly honest. She would climb all those stairs in heels with a vibe teasing her cunt every step of the way, just so I don’t have to step foot on the elevator.

I love her so much I ache with it.

With one hand at the small of her back, I reach past her and hit the elevator button.

“Maybe you can distract me,” I murmur.

The button lights up, and I open the polished wood door. Katherine pulls back the folding gate and we step inside the tiny box. It’s been years since I stepped foot in this thing, but following Katherine seems as normal as breathing.

She turns back to me, her expression soft and tender. As soon as I close the doors and hit the button for the rooftop deck, I turn back to her. Planting a hand against the wall on either side of her, I lean in close. She slides her arms around my waist, holding on to me, grounding me.

“I’m guessing Dad’s new lip gloss line isn’t kiss-proof,” I murmur as the elevator starts to climb skyward.

She purses her lips, shaking her head with regret. “I’m afraid not.”

“Excellent.”

Her laugh is husky. “Excellent?”

“Wear it for me later. I want to smear it.”

Those blue-green eyes glow with lust. A golden red brow arches as if to say, ‘Is that what you really want?’ She could have no idea all the fantasies I’ve had about that provocative mouth of hers.

She pulls me closer, lifting her lips to my ear. “You should have told me about this fantasy of yours. I normally wear it over this lipstick.”

A groan rumbles up my throat, and her laugh is soft, more of a puff of warm air against my skin than a sound.

“The lipstick is kiss-proof, though.” To prove it, she presses a kiss to my cheek.

I suck in a breath, battling back the need storming through my veins.

The elevator levels off, and my lust instantly turns to anxiety. Please let the door open.

“Hey.” She cups my cheeks, pulling my attention to her. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

Her soft reassurance washes over and through me. My shoulders drop from my ears.

What the hell did I ever do to deserve someone like her? I can’t think of anything.

She starts at the corner of my mouth. Just a soft kiss. A whisper. My lashes droop, and the tightness in my chest eases. Her lips rove, teasing mine and luring me into a scorching kiss. I sweep my tongue along her lush lower lip, and she whimpers.

“I know, Wildfire,” I murmur. “I could kiss you forever.”

I lift my head. She was right, as usual. Her lipstick is kiss-proof. And while I don’t want to explain that to my parents yet, I’m secretly bummed that the pretty peachy-pink color didn’t rub off on me.

She blinks up at me, and her slow smile feels like a kick to the ribs, so stunning it steals my breath. “Looks like I’m going to need more lip gloss.”

Lips twitching, I turn for the doors. We’re greeted by a wall of lush greenery and the sweet gurgle of a fountain. Benches flank the fountain, and dozens of pots dot the space, filled with flowers and green plants that Katherine could probably identify.

“This is incredible.” She clings to my arm, and I lead her through the maze of cozy seating areas and small trees. Vines cling to the walls of the staircase and elevator chute. But it’s the pergola in the back that makes this trip worthwhile.

Hedged in on two sides, it’s incredibly private. There’s a U-shaped outdoor sectional and a low coffee table. Standing here, I can almost convince myself I’m not in New York. Maybe I’m on a rooftop in Greece.

As Katherine studies a plant, I reach for my phone and turn the vibe on low.