Page 13 of The Billionaire's Temptation

“I’m fine,” she told him, but her voice cracked on the last word. A moment later, his arms surrounded her as he muttered a list of vile things he hoped to do to Chad and Blaire.

Over his shoulder, he suggested pointedly, “I suggest that you return every damn thing you stole out of the house, then get the hell out of my sight before I suggest to Clarissa that she suspend the borrowing of the vehicles you two are driving.”

“But…!” Blaire started sputtering. Chad clapped a hand over her mouth and dragged her away.

Levi tightened his arms around Clarissa, trying to soothe her. This had been a humiliating morning, and a miserable start to her new life. He felt her trembling and sighed, wishing that he could take away this humiliation.

“I need to go home,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

He kissed the top of her head because…because he couldn’t stop himself. Kissing Clarissa, even in places that weren’t sexual, had become his obsession. Which was worrisome because he’d only known this woman for four days!

“Let’s go inside.” He didn’t wait for her answer because he knew she was going to tell him no. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her into the house.

Instantly, he noticed that one of the Picasso paintings was gone from its place of pride over the dining room bureau, but he’d bring that up later. It had been there last night, so he supposed that Blaire or Chad, maybe both, had stolen it. No reputable salesperson would buy the painting, not without evidence of the painting’s provenance.

While he led Clarissa over to the sofa, he glanced up to find Martha standing in the doorway, wringing her hands.

“Would you mind getting Clarissa a cup of tea?”

The housekeeper nodded, eager to have a purpose. She disappeared into the kitchen and Levi turned back to Clarissa.

“Tell me what happened,” he commanded, barely able to contain his rage. What he’d seen was bad enough. But he wanted the facts so that he could act.

“I woke up this morning, not sure what to do with myself. I felt a bit lost,” she started to explain, then straightened her spine. As she lifted her head and closed her eyes, breathing in slowly and deeply, she seemed to come back to him. The strong, feisty woman he’d originally met was back! Thank goodness! Clarissa stood up and walked over to the window, staring out at…most likely nothing.

Then she turned, looking at him. “I didn’t think the person who had left the clothes in the closet would mind if I borrowed some of them. Not all are in my size, but I thought that the jeans and simple tee shirt wouldn’t be missed.

Clarissa turned her head away again and he realized that she wasn’t as confident as her tone and posture indicated. There were tears in her eyes.

“That hateful, blond…” she started to say a word, then stopped herself. Levi swallowed a chuckle, since he suspected that the word she was refraining from using was the same word he personally used to describe Blaire. “…Woman,” she continued. “She came into the bedroom I was using. As soon as she saw me in the dressing room, she screamed and ran away. She didn’t give me a chance to introduce myself or explain anything. They called the police as soon as I came downstairs.” She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned and stared out at the Olympic sized swimming pool. “Those are my half siblings?”

“Step-siblings. There is no blood kinship between you and Blaire or Chad.” He tried to keep the sneering revulsion out of his tone, but some of it seeped through anyway.

“And they have access to this house?” She turned, frowning worriedly. This time, he saw the trembling fury beneath it. “They are able to come and go from this house as they please?”

“Not unless you give them permission.” He leaned back, spreading his arms wide over the back of the sofa. He gave her a challenging glare. “What are you going to do about what happened this morning?”

Clarissa stared at the man, stunned by the unexpected pull of desire that hit her.

She’d felt the warmth of his hard body as he’d guided her back into the house. But now, watching those muscles ripple as he stared back at her, plus the daring challenge in his gaze, she was stunned by her body’s immediate reaction. She’d never felt yearning this intense before. Men in the past had always been…meh. She’d had boyfriends, of course. But none had elicited this level of reaction.

Turning away, trying to tamp down her response, she looked around the room. But she didn’t see the priceless art or the sinfully beautiful antiques. She was remembering the smug expression in Blaire’s eyes as the police officer slapped handcuffs on her wrists. She was remembering the heat of the Range Rover’s metal hood burning her stomach and cheek. And yes, the humiliation of the entire scene.

She wanted revenge!

“What wouldyoudo after that scene?” she asked. Clarissa didn’t want to ask, but she was lost at the moment. This wasn’t her world, it was his, and she hated to admit it, even if only to herself, but she needed guidance.

“What do youwantto do?”

She shifted, tightening her arms around herself. Her mind whirled with possibilities, but she dismissed all of them as petty and vengeful. “I don’t know. I just…I want to live my life without that ever happening again.”

He nodded, then abruptly got to his feet. “That’s a good start,” he announced, coming closer.

Clarissa wasn’t going to back away. He was trying to intimidate her and she was sick of being intimidated!

“What would you do?”

He chuckled. “First, I would write a big, fat check to the police officer’s union and hand deliver it. In fact, I would go so far as to deliver the check to the officer who slapped the handcuffs on you and hauled you around.” He moved closer, his voice lowering conspiratorially. “And I would do it at the police station, in front of his boss.”

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