Ruthless Financier (Steel Series Book 3) Read online

  Another soft moan came out of her lips and she reached out to play with Big Jake, but I refused her. She’d rush me. And she’d have plenty of chances to play with my package, to learn the differences, later.

  I removed my pants and underwear and threw them across the floor, preparing for the next step that had been denied, until now.

  Slowly, I nibbled her skin and soft spots as I peeled her underwear off.

  Her eyes rolled backwards as I continued to taste her and watch as that sexy flush of hers spread from her face down her neck and back and breasts.

  The redness made the peaks of her tits seem more like high-beams.

  She gasped and shrieked and I knew it was time.

  She was mine and I’d take her.

  My breathing hadn’t been this fast in a while. I pushed Big Jake inside her and she yelped with pleasure.

  I locked lips with her but she pushed her legs higher in the air, wanting more of Big Jake.

  To satisfy, I increased my speed and pounded her.

  Her soft cries were intense and she seemed to lose consciousness with her sexy screams.

  My muscles tensed, but I kissed her and continued to drill into her.

  She grasped me like she was lost in oblivion as I impaled her with my little CEO commander.

  Her legs curled to hold me tighter and my heart rate increased.

  Her vagina contracted and she gasped as she let out multiple screams.

  My own storm was about to erupt, but I held off until the apex of her desire, until her cries let me know she already she’d orgasmed.

  Her entire body was now red. I couldn’t hold on much longer. She was ready.

  I let myself explode into a hurricane and her vaginal muscles held me inside as I ejaculated.

  I continued to play with her clit as she cried out for a second time.

  I’d had her. I held her as my body returned to normal.

  I felt better now, like I could face the world. I had a wife, and nothing about Indigo seemed fake. She was probably fucking perfect.

  Chapter 13

  Indigo

  My entire body was still warm and reeling.

  Sex was amazing. I hadn’t known this.

  I snuggled against his muscular chest, protected from the world … that sensation was also amazing.

  Clearly, I’d been doing this all wrong for years, but Jacob’s hard body fit mine so perfectly that together we practically sang.

  I heard birds outside the window chirping in the early evening sky. Once I was sure my voice would be normal, I scooted up in the warm bed and met his warm ember eyes as I laid my head on the pillow.

  Jacob might be Mr. Ruthless to the world, but to me, he’d forever be Mr. Sweet. I kissed his cheek and said, “I can’t believe I was so nervous before.”

  His lips curled up and that smile of his blossomed on his face and made him seem younger as he laughed, “You enjoyed yourself.”

  His laugh rushed through me like he was all I’d ever need. As his rumbles subsided, I clutched his strong shoulder and said, “Honestly, I thought orgasms like that were just the whispers of women who still giggled over men like they were the boys in high school.”

  He winked and traced my naked body like he owned me. “Well, I’m not a boy.”

  “Clearly not,” I said. No one would ever rule me, but Jacob … if I was to ever truly let myself fall in love, he’d be it.

  He sat up and slipped the sheet off me, so he could see my naked body as he said, “You light up the room when you laugh.”

  I scooted up and hugged my knees. I met his gaze and pushed my hair behind my ears. My heart was open as I said, “Jacob, I … like us together.”

  “Love” almost came out of my mouth, but I’d stopped that. Love wasn’t real anyhow.

  He glanced at the window at the twilight sky, where the moon had just risen, as he said, “Indigo Steel, I’ve not felt the remotest feeling for a woman in years. You’re my exception.”

  My entire body melted, and I squeezed his hand. If he said he loved me, I wasn’t sure what I’d do, but the thought hit me that I would say it back. But I’d never be like my mom, weak and dependent.

  I said, “You’re clearly mine too. No one else, ever …”

  Had been close enough to steal my heart. The words stopped flowing but my body trembled. We were temporary. I was his wife only for five years.

  He stood, stark naked and not caring that I saw his penis swinging as he stretched. He said, “I realized that, which was why I went slow.”

  Coldness entered me. Yes, my parents had been in love, but my father was always the heart and mind. I saw how hard he worked to keep us together and keep my mom calm … I didn’t have it in me to be like her, and honestly, that thought had been with me since I was a girl.

  I held the sheets as I said, “Good. Glad you showed me what an orgasm actually was.”

  This was easier to talk about than love. How funny. He grabbed a towel from the en suite bathroom and tossed it at me as he asked, “So you’d do it again?”

  I got out of bed and wrapped myself in the towel as I said, “I’ll happily stay right here and avoid the party.”

  He flipped the light on in the bathroom and brushed his teeth. I tiptoed in and joined him. As he finished he stared at me in the mirror and said, “Part of me wants to just take you and run away from my own plans.”

  Trauma had left my mom suffering from panic attacks, even hiding from our neighbors when they’d come to the door. Running solved nothing; it only caused more issues. I finished brushing my teeth and rinsed my brush as I said, “But we’ll go to the party, and you’ll win against your father.”

  He leaned on the vanity and said, “He’s going to attack our marriage. I need you to be strong.”

  “I will.”

  I’d been too honest. I’d never told anyone anything as private and dear to me, as I’d done with Jacob. I pressed my hand to his heart and wished I was capable of love. He deserved that. He deserved a wife who would love him—not me, the ice queen who ran from her emotions so I’d never fall apart.

  “You paid me twenty-five million dollars to be your wife,” I said, “and I’ll convince everyone that our marriage is real.”

  A ring buzzed in the silence. He pointed to the desk where my phone vibrated and said, “Speaking of …”

  “My family already likes you.” I patted his naked butt. “Take a shower. We need to get ready.”

  He laughed at me as I rushed through the room in my towel, and said, “Tell your sister ‘hi’, and she can have whatever she needs.”

  He turned the water on in the stand-alone glass shower and steam quickly hid him from view. I picked up the phone and asked, “Ridley, what’s going on?”

  “The court is giving me custody if I show up in Texas to get Chelsea.”

  Things had worked out for my family this time because of Jacob. I said, “That’s awesome.”

  “I took a leave from the hospital. Nicole is going to care for my plants and apple tree.”

  Ridley spent hours on her feet taking care of her patients and never complained. She deserved a vacation—though this wasn’t exactly a vacation. Soon she’d have someone else to take care of.

  My stomach had butterflies as I wondered what having a child might be like.

  I’d never been maternal before, but Jacob’s beautiful face on a small baby was a vision that caught me off guard. My face heated, but at least my sister had no idea as I said, “Then you’re all set.”

  “I wouldn’t have had the ability to do this so fast without Frank and your husband. Seriously. Now Chelsea won’t have to spend one more day without someone who at least cares about her being there.”

  Ability was something Jacob had in spades. Until I’d married him, I’d been so focused on the twenty-five million dollars I needed that I’d not slept well at night or eaten properly.

  For the first time in my life, I had options. I could choose what to do without runni
ng after a seemingly impossible number. I kept my thoughts to myself and asked, “When do you head down to Texas?”

  “I’m at the airport now. My flight is delayed by a half an hour.”

  So this was the last time Ridley would be living alone, like I’d been. Not that we were at all the same, but she’d understood my complaints about running at all hours. I stilled and said, “You’ll be there in no time.”

  “Seriously, Indigo, you married a keeper. Joseph didn’t have to serve any time, and his record has been expunged.”

  “Keeper” wasn’t possible. The contract was clear. And besides, love was a delusion that women tell themselves, right? I needed to protect myself from thoughts that had us living together forever. I rubbed my temples and said, “I should go.”

  The shower ended as I approached. I leaned against the never-closed door and as he came out to air dry, he asked, “How was your sister?”

  My muscles tensed but I was aware of the danger. For now, I needed to avoid his touch, and I sidestepped him to get in the shower he’d just vacated. I said, “She said you were a keeper, and she’s thankful for your help. She has custody if she goes to Texas.”

  I turned on the water as he said, “Good to hear.”

  My muscles were awake in places I hadn’t ever felt before, but I washed my hair and body and hoped I could get my thoughts under control.

  Water normally calmed my fears and made my mind relax so I could get in a few hours’ rest.

  My breasts still had a sweet ache of his tenderness and the shower didn’t diminish the reverberations of that memory.

  I turned off the water and grabbed my towel.

  This wasn’t love. It had never existed. Jacob and I had lust and maybe a few other things in common. This wasn’t anything more than that. I stepped out of the shower and continued the conversation where it had left off. Jacob was now in his underwear and picking out his suit.

  “And Joseph was cleared of all charges. And the legal team you sent has arranged to have his record expunged,” I told him.

  I joined him in the closet and handed him the navy blue paisley tie. He took it and kissed the back of my still-wet neck. “Glad I could help.”

  I turned toward him. No reason not to indulge ourselves now. I rested on his chest as I glanced up at him and said, “And I’m here for you.”

  He let me go and then handed me a yellow and green slip dress that showed off my back and arms. I grabbed my black silk underwear and bra, and wriggled into them and the dress. I knew he was watching me, but there was nothing I could do. I put my hands on my hips and asked, “Zip me up?”

  He did, and then he hugged me as he said, “I wish we didn’t have to go anywhere.”

  Agreed. Staying here in his sexy arms would stop me from thinking. But I turned toward him and buttoned his shirt. “We flew here for this party.”

  He tucked in his shirt and then tossed the tie around his neck and began to tie it. I grabbed some shoes and we left the walk-in closet. As I put the shoes near the bedroom door, he said, “I intended to get voting stock in my father’s company to add to my quiet collection.”

  I pivoted and saw that he’d finished his tie. I helped him into his jacket and asked, “Yeah?”

  He reached behind him and stroked my arm as he said, “Every transaction has been secret, but I’ve quietly traded companies to secure enough stock to ensure he has a new board, under my control, with this last one.”

  That was a big secret. He trusted me. My heart raced, but I needed to be fine.

  Life was good with him. I raised my eyebrows to not let my thoughts get to me as I asked, “Maybe he found out?”

  He let me go and squared his shoulders. “Maybe, but there is only one way to find out.”

  Right. We put our shoes on and as I strapped on the heels I asked, “Is there anything about your father I should know, as your wife?”

  He opened the door to his huge house. I’d not seen much of it, including the entire second floor. I also had no idea where the kitchen was, not that was I hungry. The huge chandelier in the living room captured the moonlight that shone in from the ocean and created shadows on the wall until he flipped the light on. He said, “He’s never trusted women; and if he’s rude to you, don’t take it personally.”

  I quickly grabbed my pocketbook and stuffed my phone in and then returned to the living room, standing at his side. I asked, “Did he ever remarry?”

  We headed to the door and he held it for me. “He never did, no, but the house was always full of women practically my age when I moved in—and younger by the time I finished college.”

  My nose wrinkled. “Gross.”

  He clicked a key and a car in the garage beeped. We headed toward the sound as crickets sang in the night air. He said, “Yet with all that fucking, he never created another child.”

  He pressed the button and the garage door opened. As we waited, I bumped into him and said, “Look, Jacob, I’m on your side. You can just never see him, if you want, and we can go retire to Italy and live like royalty.”

  He walked me to my door and had his hand possessively on my lower back as he asked, “You’d disappear with me?”

  He opened the door and I scooted in as I said, “You’re the first man I’ve ever actually wanted to see again. Running away with you, staying on the beach, with a bottle of wine, that might be heaven.”

  He stood above my door and said, “Part of me wants the picture you paint.”

  The same. If only I could forget the world—my fears—and just live.

  In another life I’d be very happy as Mrs. Steel-Donovan. More than happy, if I was honest, but that was an impossible dream.

  I used the mirror to paint on my face to make myself glow. I’d be a perfect-for-now wife, as that was what I was.

  I just needed to remind myself this wasn’t forever.

  Chapter 14

  Jacob

  The white house with dark glass windows meant that whoever was inside could see out from practically everywhere in their house, but whoever drove onto the estate couldn’t see in.

  The lights outside belonged on a Broadway stage or a movie premiere, complete with the red carpet.

  Every time I’d ever come to Florida, the art deco architecture and the palm trees reminded me of a retirement version of Hollywood.

  The Robinsons kept that up in spades. I pressed my hand on Indigo’s lower back as we strolled up the driveway.

  Other guests parked and followed behind us.

  As we ascended the one step to the entrance, the door was open and our hosts were standing to greet us. I shook their hands and said, “Howard and Nora, thank you for inviting us.”

  Indigo and Nora hugged and then Nora said to us, “Please go on outside and get a drink.”

  I lifted my eyes at her husband while Indigo said, “This mansion is beautiful.”

  More guests would come in a moment and I wanted business done. If my father was here, it could be too late. I asked, “Howard?”

  He pointed to a side room and I kissed Indigo’s cheek and said, “Right, Indigo, go get a drink and I’ll meet you in a minute. Howard and I have to finish a deal.”

  The host and I went inside for a quick contract to be signed and for his shares to be transferred to my name. This was the last deal I needed for my board takeover, and it happened without a syllable being spoken.

  Everything was in place now to topple my father’s throne. We signed and he patted my back and headed back to his wife.

  I pushed the envelope into my inside pocket and returned to Indigo, who stood with one leg out and her arms crossed. She dropped her arms as I joined her and pressed her hand on my hip as she asked quietly, “So did he sign?”

  I patted my jacket over my heart, where the papers were, and reached behind her to hold her.

  Indigo was a force in my life I’d never expected. I wasn’t sure how it had happened. I’d never expected to trust any woman, yet I’d confided my whole life story
in her. I led her away from the hall as I said, “Yes. I have enough to force my father out.”

  “Congrats.” She playfully elbowed me and walked beside me as we headed out onto the sparkling pool deck, with backlights and low lights that brightened the dark sky, like we were in some movie. This spot made her sparkle. And my body and soul craved her.

  Part of me wanted to believe we had a future and this wasn’t just a contract. I’d never had a real partner.

  She stopped and stared at the bar made of marble, where guests milled about, and said, “The poolside bar is beautiful. And look at the moon reflecting on the ocean over there.”

  Beyond the shimmer of moonlight, the ocean was dark, but a couple of cruise liners were bright beacons in the distance.

  I glanced behind her and saw the one dark cloud of a man I’d avoided seeing socially for years. I tapped Indigo’s side and said, “It’s the perfect spot for a reckoning.”

  He was older, gray-haired, but still had those perfectly white shark teeth and an unnatural, almost orange tan. I tensed as Indigo asked, “Is that what this is?”

  Protecting Indigo flashed in my mind and I squeezed her side as I said, “That’s my father.”

  She turned with me to look at him, and whispered, as he approached from across the pool, “He’s much skinnier than his online pictures.”

  I tore my gaze away from the man I couldn’t stand and smelled the fresh rose air of Indigo as I asked, “You hadn’t researched him?”

  She shook her head and said, “Not really. He wasn’t a potential client, but he is your father, so I only read the first few clicks.”

  Footsteps came closer and we both turned. She held out her hand like she was at a board meeting and said, “Hello, Mr. Donovan.”

  He shook hands, but then reached for her left hand and turned it upright. He met my gaze. “Why does your bride not have a ring, Jacob?”

  I stepped in front of her to keep her out of whatever he’d say. “It’s on the agenda. I’ve not let her leave my side much to pick out what she wants.”

  “I remember when your mother and I were like that.” My stomach twisted. I was nothing like him. He pretended to be nice to Indigo as he said, “My son is not treating you right.”