Page 81 of Big Bad Bully
Chapter Twenty-One
Aubrey
I am sore when I sink into the gorgeous white leather seat of Brick’s private jet for our trip to Monaco. I spent the past two weeks exploring the darker side of sex with Billy.
Spanking. Bondage. Rough handling.
I love the way his cool control slips when he gets passionate. The way he tries to keep it all together then combusts. I suspect he hates it, which makes it even better. Like I’ve gotten under his skin. Like I’ve won.
We’re not in a relationship–that is plain. He tells me nothing personal. He never talks about business or pleasure. It’s just verbal sparring and searing interludes.
Which is fine by me–he’s not the kind of guy I’d ever date.
Still, he’s growing on me.
On the night of the Sentience gala, my landlord was waiting outside my apartment when I got home. I guess Pepper was crying for me, so the jig was up over having a pet in the building. I was afraid I was going to lose the apartment, but Billy smoothly handled it, claiming the dog was his, and apologizing with a fat wad of cash that made the whole problem go away.
The same way he made the videotape of me in the server room go away. Jamie says she has everything she needs now. She’s busy compiling documents that can be used for a full class-action lawsuit.
After that night, Pepper slept at Billy’s house.
So yeah. We may not be in a relationship, but apparently, we’re sharing a dog. And fucking like rabbits.
An attendant walks through the jet handing out champagne glasses filled with prosecco.
“Let’s get this party started!” I turn on the portable Bose speaker I brought and play Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” to get us in the mood.
Billy gives me a long-suffering look, and I smirk.
I lift my upper lip in my best Billy Idol snarl and sing along. For a moment, I think Madi’s going to let me make a fool of myself alone, but then she joins in, lifting her fist in the air with her own version of the song.
I’ve never been on a private jet. Or hung out with Brick and his buddies, other than at the engagement party. This is really not my kind of scene. They’re all billionaires, and apparently Nickel is some sort of duke. Or about to become one via an arranged marriage. It’s wild.
I down my glass of prosecco, trying to relax and enjoy the experience, and stop wondering how much this trip is adding to my carbon footprint.
As if he reads my mind, Billy leans in. “This jet is electric. No emissions.”
I gasp. “Really?” I peek out the window at the wing as if I’ll be able to tell the difference between a gas and electric engine.
“Yep, prototype,” Brick says. He and Madi sit across from me. Billy somehow ended up beside me. We look like we’re on a double date, again.
“That’s awesome,” I say. “Billy was telling me about battery technology the other day.”
“Was this at All Night?” Madi asks. She knows Billy met me at the club the night she stood me up. But I haven’t gotten the chance to tell her about how we’ve been hooking up since then. We’re overdue for a girl chat. “Actually, it was at the gala. Billy was my ride.” My date, really, although I don’t know if we want to label it like that.
Madi blinks. “I didn’t know you went to that, Billy. How was it?”
Billy and I share a look, silently agreeing that we’re not going to share how we broke into a server room and almost got caught.
“Good,” we say in unison.
Madi stares at us, taking in our newfound camaraderie. Brick looks amused.
“How is the team at Sentience?” Brick asks.
“Bunch of blowhards,” Billy answers. “Their tech isn’t as impressive as they think it is, but these days, angel investors throw money at any mention of AI. Also, their security is shit.”
Brick nods. He’s got Madi’s hand cradled between both of his. Every so often, he raises it and kisses it as if he can’t stand to be physically separated from her.
