Page 102 of The Reluctant Billionaire

‘Oh, fuck,’ Aide says.

I glance up at him and almost laugh at the star-struck expression on his face.

‘Mate,’ he says, hugging me against his side and sticking his hand out for Davide to shake. ‘Sorry. Aidan. How are you doing?’

Davide takes Aide’s hand graciously. ‘I’m doin’ great. You’re a lucky guy.’ He nods in my direction.

‘Yeah.’ Aide hugs me harder and swallows audibly. ‘I know.’

Davide raises his glass to us. ‘Santé. Have a great evening and I’ll see you guys around.’

As he saunters off, Aide drops his forehead to mine and slides a warm, strong hand around the back of my neck. ‘Twenty-four hours and you find yourself a fucking mega celeb,’ he groans. ‘Jesus Christ. But who can blame him?’

‘It’s called karma,’ I tell him chirpily.

‘I deserved that.’

‘He’s very attractive.’ I tilt my head upwards. ‘But I only have eyes for one man, no matter how much that pisses me off. I may have dropped your name into the conversation about twenty times.’

‘Good,’ he growls, and then his lips are on mine, firm and hungry and relentless. I melt against him, opening for him, wanting everything he has to give me. The solidity of his body, the intrusion of his tongue—it’s all so incredibly welcome. I don’t want anything except this.

I don’t want anyone except him.

I suspect we’re putting on quite a show. He’s insatiable, kissing me thoroughly, licking his tongue deep into my mouth, reminding me who I belong to. As if I needed reminding. One hand’s still holding me around my neck while the other slides down my body till it finds my arse and squeezes it hard.

Um, that squeeze isn’t the only thing that’s hard.

I break the kiss. ‘How did you get here?’ I ask breathlessly, roaming my hands down the front of his firm chest. He really is so delicious. So hyper-masculine.

‘Net Jets,’ he says sheepishly. ‘Totum has a Marquis card.’

‘Wow,’ I say innocently. ‘Imagine how fewer carbon emissions you could have caused if you’d just come with me in the first place.’

He slaps my bum lightly. ‘I’m offsetting it so much I could probably replant the Amazon.’

‘Glad to hear it.’ I say. I stand on my tiptoes so I can kiss him. ‘And I’mveryglad you’re here.’

‘You can thank Judy for that,’ he says. ‘She gave me a proper bollocking.’

‘I’m sorry I missed that.’ I smile at him. ‘But you can tell me about it later. Let’s get you a drink and we can explain to our lovely hostess why you’ve turned up out of the blue.’

‘Noah’s already let her know,’ he says bashfully. ‘But yeah, I’m keen to apologise to her.’

I narrow my eyes at him. ‘Isapologisea code word forogle one of the most beautiful actors on the planet?’

‘Nope,’ he says. ‘I have no fucking interest in anyone but you. But I might extend the apology to cover all the inappropriate things I intend to do to my girlfriend under the dinner table and on the dance floor later.’

‘I’d just seek forgiveness later, if I were you.’ I let my head drop against his chest. The sound of his heart beating steadily against my ear may just be the best thing I’ve ever heard, and the smell ofhimthrough freshly laundered linen puts the work of the chefs here to shame.

Heaven isn’t here.

It’s him.

39

LOTTA

Aide’s already in our suite’s huge bed when I emerge from taking my makeup off in the bathroom. I’m tired from too much food, wine, and dancing. When half of Hollywood takes over Le Club 55, you’re in for one hell of a party. The vibe got so rowdy, so infectious, after dinner that even Aide fell foul of it and ended up dancing on the tables with me.

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