Page 1 of Billionaire Book Boyfriend

Chapter 1

Dear Reader,

Hey, girl, hey! And for the guys reading: hey, guy, hey! Before we dive into Drake King’s story, I just wanted to give you a little heads-up. This book is part of the continuing saga of the King family, which spun off from theTouched Downseries on Kindle Vella. You’ll meet Drake’s cousin, Terrance King, who is an offensive lineman in Touched Down alongside his love, Terrica. So don’t be surprised when you see them pop up inBillionaire Book Boyfriend—they’re part of the family too!

Now, while there will be more stories featuring the Kings in the future, just a quick note: this is a short story. That means it won’t have all the elements of a full novel, because the purpose of a short story is to give you a sweet taste of the drama, passion, and fun without the long ride. The promotions of it being a saga pertain to the King family as a continuing storyline, so think of this as one exciting chapter in their larger story.

Get comfy and enjoy!

Love,

Shani

Drake King

Heat Between the Pages

Iscan my pristine living room, taking in the perfection that has become my life. Every piece of furniture is arranged with the precision of a military drill. Every item in the room has been polished and carefully arranged. Except there’s one thing strangely out of place. A brightly colored paperback novel is sitting on my glass coffee table, sticking out like a sore thumb.My brow furrows as I walk across the quiet room; the only sound is my Italian loafers clicking against the polished marble floor.

Ever since I left Lowndes County behind and made a name for myself in Atlanta as a an empire builder in the investment game, I’ve made sure my life stays in order. I left the chaos behind. Having things out of place just isn’t an option anymore. I remember all too well what it felt like living that messy, unfulfilled life. The unpaid bills, the chaos, the uncertainty, and not getting the woman I wanted—the one I’d had a crush on since high school. And yeah, she’s the one who ended up falling for my cousin instead.

I pick up the bright, colorful book from the coffee table, holding it between my thumb and forefinger, looking at it like it’s a bug I can’t decide whether to squash or let go.

“Flirty Dirty Secrets,” I say out loud, eyeing the loopy pink font and the little glittery heart they threw on there. I roll my eyes and flip it over to check out the back cover.

Welcome to the world of secrets, scandal, and seduction. Natalie never imagined her innocent night out would spiral into a web of erotic desire, with her heart and panties caught in the trap of a devastatingly handsome stranger.

"Unbelievable!" I shake my head in disgust. “I can’t believe this is what people are wasting their time on? How the hell did this get in here?"

This book has been impossible to avoid. For the last few weeks, it feels like the whole world has been buzzing aboutFlirty Dirty Secrets.It’s hit the top ten list forThe New York Times, morning news anchors are giving it their stamp of approval. The damn thing is everywhere. Even on the rare occasions I scroll through social media, the algorithms seem to think I’d care about the breakout success of some anonymous romance smut author. It’s, frankly, annoying.

I toss the book back onto the table, frustrated that it somehow infiltrated my sanctuary. It has to be Mrs. Finch, my maid. She probably left it after she finished dusting. The older woman doesn’t strike me as the type to get caught up in the latest romance fad, but then again, this book seems to have some strange power over people. I can hardly believe my assistant was gushing about it at the office just this morning.

“It’s so addictive, Mr. King. You should really try it. You won’t regret it,”she had said, eyes gleaming like she’d just uncovered the Holy Grail.

Right. Like I have time for that kind of nonsense. I don’t waste time on real romance. Why would I waste it reading a fantasy erotic romance in a book?

I haven’t chased a woman on an intimate level since I was back home in Alabama. When Terrica left town and moved to Washington with Terrance, I gave up trying to find the right one for me and threw myself into becoming successful. Now, Terrica and my cousin, Terrance King, are living their happily ever after in Washington, while I’ve become a very rich man.

After Terrica left town, I finally accepted that being with her wasn’t in the cards. I moved to Atlanta, got in with the right crowd, and struck gold with tech investments. I used to think I’d never see the kind of wealth my football superstar cousin had, but now I’ve got more money than I could ever spend, no matter how hard I try. My fortune keeps growing, thanks to an early investment in a tech company that’s now skyrocketing. I'm so rich, I could buy love if I wanted. But honestly, I haven't even bothered to think about it.

I rub my temples, but something in the back of my mind refuses to let me ignore the book entirely. What is it about this ridiculous novel that has everyone so worked up?

I can already hear the excuses forming in my head as I decide to take a peek inside:It’s research,I tell myself. Understanding what the masses waste their time on might help me with choosing my next investment.

With my internal reasoning settled, I pick up the book again and lounge in the leather armchair by the window. My eyes lock onto the first page as I start reading,Chapter One: The Night Everything Changed…

The writing is simple, yet before I realize what’s happening, I’m a few pages in, mildly intrigued by Natalie’s seemingly mundane life. She’s just trying to get through the daily grind, but there’s something about the way the author captures those small, relatable moments, like when she’s late for work because she couldn’t find her keys or when she has an awkward encounter with her boss, that pulls me in.

A few more pages, and I catch myself smirking at the sharp, witty dialogue between her and her best friend, the kind of banter thatfeels too real to be fiction. I’m not invested. Of course, I’m not. However, the author has a way of making these characters feel... alive.

I tell myself I’ll stop after one chapter. That’ll give me enough material to critique and mock the next time someone brings it up in conversation.

But then the first chapter ends on a cliffhanger, leaving Natalie face-to-face with a mysterious stranger at a nightclub. The guy’s described with all the usual clichés: tall, dark, devastatingly handsome. Yet somehow, I feel a tug of curiosity, and then I do the unthinkable. I turn the page.

One chapter turns into two, two into five, and before I know it, the sun has disappeared behind the city’s skyline, leaving the room bathed in the soft glow of twilight. I blink in disbelief at the clock on the wall. Five hours. I’ve been reading this ridiculous, trashy novel for five hours straight. How the hell did that happen?

I rub my eyes, suddenly aware of how dry and tired they feel, and close the book. Standing up, I stretch and walk toward the window, needing a moment to clear my head. My phone buzzes on the table for the twelfth time. I probably have a dozen missed calls from people far more important than Natalie and her fictional affairs, but I ignore them.

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