Bargaining for the Billionaire (3 page)

Don't say it, Lockwood. Keep it light. Keep it neutral.

That's what he told himself, at least. His fingers, however, didn't appear to be listening. Curiosity had downright slayed that cat.

BookNerd: Not necessarily. Are you telling me you'd actually share?

The clock on the wall across from him ticked-tick-ticked out the seconds. His gut knotted and his nerves frayed. He was so damn close yet so far away.

Edgy and restless, he deposited his laptop onto the couch beside him and surged to his feet, pacing the living room spread out before him. He stared out the glass that made up the far wall, at the lights dotting the other houses around him. Lake Union spread out before him, calm and serene. The neighborhood was dead silent and memories echoed around him. All those late night conversations filled his head. Three years ago, he'd have told her,
“Describe what you're wearing tonight, baby…”

For all her bravado, Maddie was a traditional girl. On their first date, she'd told him she didn't sleep around, that before she made love to him, she had to trust him. It had taken him six months to make it past first base, and he'd considered himself damn lucky for that. Which meant he had to cool his jets and follow her lead this time as well.

Behind him, his laptop pinged with the announcement of a new message. He jogged back to the couch, plopping down with all the finesse of an excited eight year old. His laptop bounced on the soft cushions and a quiet laugh escaped him. Hell. Cassie was right. Maddie had him well and thoroughly by the cock.

He set his laptop once again on his knees and read her message.

MadHatter3000: I might. So long as we get one thing clear.

His heart hammered. Damn, he hadn't expected her to say that. He'd expected her to shut him down. Now, he was intrigued.

BookNerd: All right. Lay it on me.

MadHatter3000: I'm not looking for permanent. Just some fun. That's probably TMI, but you asked and I'm an honest kind of girl. When our date at the auction ends, this ends.

Grayson tipped his head back and laughed. It seemed they really were in the same place, neither one really able to move on. It gave him hope, and awakened a certain part of his anatomy he was sure once had shriveled up from lack of use. Christ, he was hopeless. A few words of encouragement and he was hard as steel. His cock strained, pushing uncomfortably against the zipper of his tailored slacks.

BookNerd: Are you telling me you're just looking for sex?

MadHatter3000: And if I am?

For a moment, Grayson could only stare at his screen, dumbfounded. His cock twitched, encouraging him to pick up that particular breadcrumb and run like hell with it. For the first time in a long time, he'd have a fantasy that didn't include old memories, but another living, breathing participant.

Well, I'll be damned.

His fingers shook with a heady mix of adrenaline and arousal as he punched in a reply.

BookNerd: Sweetheart, I'll admit that little tidbit has me harder than a brass rod. No fair teasing with comments like that. ;) But I think we should take this one step at a time.

He meant that. He had no desire to scare her off before they'd even begun. That her reply once again popped up seconds later, however, didn't help the snugness of his pants.

MadHatter3000: Please don't tell me you're a traditional guy.

Grayson dragged a hand through his hair. Christ. At this rate, he'd never get any sleep tonight. He'd hoped to loosen her up. Never in a million years had he expected her to respond. What the hell did he say to her now?

He drew a deep breath and released it as the answer hit him. Honesty. As much as possible given the circumstances of this charade, honesty was always the best policy.

BookNerd: Actually, I am. But I meant that I don't want you to think this was my entire plan, to seduce you. That's not who I am. I'm kind of going with the flow. Though, truth be told, I'm enjoying this.

MadHatter3000: Me, too. So tell me what you look like. Christina was vague on the deets.

Another knot formed in his gut as the answer to her innocent query flitted through his mind. Christina was vague on purpose.

BookNerd: 6'3”, brown hair, brown eyes.

That was the truth, at least.

BookNerd: Your turn.

MadHatter3000: Workout?

A soft laugh escaped him. Apparently, she intended to torture him before she told him what she looked like. Oh, he knew, had long since memorized all the lines and angles of her face, all the natural hues in her hair, and the little gold flecks around her pupils. But he was curious as hell what she'd actually tell him. This was a bold side of Maddie he'd never seen before. It both intrigued and saddened him. What had she been through in the last three years that she'd decided to jump in feet first?

During an intimate conversation late one night three years ago, she'd told him the exact opposite about herself. He'd been lying in the dark on his bed, staring at the shadowy ceiling above him. Her voice had been a bare, vulnerable whisper along the phone line.

“I have some ugly things in my past, Gray. I don't just hop into bed with guys on a whim. Not anymore.”

“You won't get any pressure from me, sweetheart. I'm quite happy waiting for you.” He meant that. He was an old fashioned kind of guy at heart, and he'd fallen for her. Hard. Maddie was worth waiting for.

“Thank you.” She drew a shuddering breath, a nervous tremor to her voice as she spoke again. “I was a lot more carefree in college. I went to a lot of frat parties, enjoyed my sexuality. But I got hurt. These days, I have to trust a man before I'll even think about sex.”

Grayson shook off the memory, refocused on the computer in front of him and set his fingers to the keys. Fun and flirty was definitely the way to go. He hoped she'd understand how he meant his next comment, that he attempted to set her at ease.

BookNerd: No fair evading the question. ;)

MadHatter3000: Do you?

BookNerd: 5 days a week like a good boy.

Working out was where all his excess energy went. On days when he couldn't forget her, when the need to storm her apartment and force her to listen made him crazy, because his life was empty without her, he went to the gym. Pushing his muscles to the limit left his mind blissfully blank. Nights and weekends, however, were harder. Even the pull of a good book lately couldn't drag his mind from the fact that Maddie essentially lived right around the corner. Her apartment downtown was ten minutes from here, five in good traffic.

He typed in an additional message, aiming once again for a playful tease. Hell, it had worked so far.

BookNerd: Would you like proof?

MadHatter3000: lol No pictures. I'm new to this and that's an aspect I'm not quite ready for. Yet.

He hadn't meant it that way, but now he was curious.

BookNerd: May I ask why now?

MadHatter3000: Because I'm 28. I'm not getting any younger, and this is…safe. It's been a while for me. A relationship ended badly. Christina was right when she told you I don't trust easily. But I'll admit I hate being alone. This is kind of a first step.

Grayson sat back, dropping his hands to his sides. His chest tightened with regret. That he'd hurt her had haunted him every day of the last three years. He hated knowing he'd hurt her to the point she'd shut down.

This time, his reply was a whole lot more honest.

BookNerd: You're not alone there. It's been a while for me, too. And for the record, I won't be sending any of those types of pics. The first time you see a certain part of my anatomy I'd rather it be up close and personal.

MadHatter3000: Cock. You can say it. I'm a noob, not a virgin.

He could only shake his head. She was softness and strength, boldness and shyness all rolled into one dynamite package, and he was happily struggling to keep up with her. When she tossed comments like that at him—the bold ones—said part of his anatomy throbbed to life again. His cock happily reminded him how long it had been since he'd held a woman in his arms, let alone made love to one. Oh, he'd tried. The first year after their breakup, he was so hurt by the way she'd iced him out, he was determined to forget her.

Except no woman could ever measure up. Phone sex with Maddie was miles better than actual sex with anyone else. He'd given up attempting to date over a year ago. How the hell he was supposed to move on with his life when all he wanted was her?

His heart hung heavy, all those things he should have said to her a long time ago rising like a typhoon over his head.

Grayson sighed. How the hell did she want him to answer that? Playful was the way to go. If he didn't, he'd be doing everything he shouldn't. All unburdening himself would do was re-erect that wall between them, which would only serve to put him back where he'd already been—alone and without her.

BookNerd: All right, cock. Happy now?

MadHatter3000: That depends. Are you actually hard or just a tease?

He closed his eyes and forced himself to draw a shaky breath. Christ. She was going to kill him. He'd die a slow, painful death from lack of oxygen to the brain.

He opened his eyes and shook his head as he punched in a reply.

BookNerd: You're killing me here, you know that? Both. I find you intriguing. You're bolder than I expected. I expected you to shut me down by now. So I'll admit I'm pushing my luck, because your reactions tell me a lot about you and what you expect. From me and from this.

That, sadly, was the truth. He'd also said it because he was dying to know how she'd respond. He'd missed this, the hot, intimate chats.

MadHatter3000: Maybe this is exactly what I want and why I agreed to it.

Ah, now they were getting somewhere.

BookNerd: You want to step outside your box.

MadHatter3000: I want something hot and frivolous that doesn't end in heartbreak.

Grayson ignored the twinge of regret tightening in his gut and typed in a playful response. He had to play this cool. He was supposed to be a stranger to her.

BookNerd: Ditto. That was three questions, BTW. That's going to cost you.

MadHatter3000: Ok. I suppose you earned it. Lay 'em on me.

BookNerd: Now it's your turn. Are you aroused?

MadHatter3000: I'm getting warmer. Next?

He smiled. Damn tease.

BookNerd: That's all I get? Just warm?

MadHatter3000: Sorry, cowboy, but you're going to have work harder than that. ;)

Damn it all to hell. Now, he couldn't resist. He ought to, but he couldn't.

BookNerd: Tease. ;) Tell me what you're wearing.

MadHatter3000: You aren't going to ask what I look like?

Crap. He'd forgotten that.
Think fast, Lockwood.

BookNerd: I already did and you didn't answer. I took the hint. Whatever you're comfortable with.

MadHatter3000: I'm a natural redhead.

And gorgeous. Maddie's copper locks flowed down her back in thick waves. She had the complexion to match, smooth, creamy skin and freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks.

BookNerd: I'd rather discover the truth of that for myself, thank you. ;)

MadHatter3000: lol I'm not sending a pic.

BookNerd: Did I ask for one?

MadHatter3000: Next question, please.

BookNerd: What. Are. You. Wearing?

Grayson sat back, glancing over the fast-paced conversation, and grinned. Christ, he'd missed her. Playful banter like this was what had originally brought them together three years ago. They'd gotten to know each other as colleagues and slowly over the year and a half he'd worked undercover at Bradbury, an easy friendship had formed. A work-related e-mail had somehow blossomed. She'd toss a subtle flirt at him. He'd respond and send her one back. It had launched a million small conversations between them, each one bolder than the last.

Another lengthy silence followed. This one so long he feared he really had pushed her beyond her comfort zone. Insides twisted in nervous, highly aroused knots, he set his laptop aside and surged to his feet, pacing to the windows again. The night around him was as quiet and serene as the rocking of the dock the house sat on. This view was what had made him purchase this house. Only now it did nothing for his scattered nerves. Christ. By time the she was done with him, he'd need a cold shower.

He counted fifteen ticks of the clock before his laptop pinged behind him. He turned his head, reading her reply from across the room.

MadHatter3000: Just my pj's.

He stared for a moment, stunned.
I'll be damned.
She'd actually told him. He moved to his computer and punched in a reply. The last time he'd been this aroused, an innocent chat with her had turned into something hot and delicious. That was the first time he discovered the sounds she made when she came.

BookNerd: Describe them.

MadHatter3000: t-shirt and panties.

BookNerd: I find that incredibly sexy.

Christ, she had no idea. Maddie had curves, a petite, perfect figure. The thought of her sitting over there in little more than one of those form hugging T-shirts she was fond of and a pair of panties had his cock swelling further, pressing painfully against his zipper. He reached down to readjust it into a more comfortable position.

BookNerd: Here's where all those probing questions are going to cost you.