Billionaire Alpha 1(25)

"So he thinks all women are cheaters?"

Matt nodded and took a bite of his food, breathing in and fanning his mouth. "Hoooot."

Bethany laughed. That was the deal. He was dominant and beautifully   sexy, but control was paramount. She took a couple of bites of her food   before letting her guard down and confessing a few of her own demons.

"I punched Sadie in the face today because she got into my background   records somehow. That, or the girl is just wicked good at reading   people. She mentioned my raising and how pathetic I was because my dad   was the piece of shit he was." She pulled the napkin up, embarrassment   washing over her. "I'm sorry. I'm not usually so weepy."

Matt reached out and rubbed her shoulder, his hand strong and comforting.

"No apologies. Sharing the hurts from our pasts isn't easy, but it's   going to build up our relationship. Cry all you want. I feel like my   insides have turned inside out just thinking about how much my brother   hurt. He didn't even go to momma's funeral. Dad's still pissed at him   for it and Damon just can't tell him why."

"That's horrible." Bethany picked up her drink, taking a long sip and   licking at the salt on the rim. "My dad left when I was twelve. I guess   it was in trying to protect us from the drug dealers that were coming   after him, but the mess he left my mom in was unforgivable. She ended up   two-hundred thousand dollars in debt from his charges. We moved from a   normal neighborhood to the ghetto overnight. Food stamps and two meals  a  day instead of three or four became the norm."

"Fuck, Beth... I had no idea." He moved his hand back to his lap as a frown tugged at his mouth. "When did things get better?"

"They haven't, but I think your father is our saving grace. At least I   hope." She shrugged and put her fork down, her appetite gone.

"How have you been paying for college?"

"I work two or three jobs on campus and tutor like crazy. I've gotten   several scholarships and grants, but it's all dried up. Kent is willing   to pay for my master's if I work for him while I go through it, which  is  more than generous."

"Dad's good like that. He will be so good to your mom and you, Bethany.   He's exactly the kind of man I want to be when I grow up." Matt smiled   and shrugged, laughing softly.

"I think I'm falling in love with Damon." Bethany dropped the bomb,   needing to get it off her chest. The air became hard to breathe, her   admission more to herself than Matt. It had only been a week. How   ridiculous was that? It didn't matter. The truth gave way to clarity and   she realized how quickly she could get wrapped up in striving to make   Damon happy, in loving him beyond anything he could imagine. She could   restore his faith in women and wipe away his hurts. She could.         

     



 

Matt sat back, the smile playing at the edge of his kind mouth.

"I think you would be perfect for him."

"Yes, well he might not feel the same, and there is the issue of us being family."

"I think he might actually feel the same. That's the problem. He's going   to fight against it. I would be careful to play an evenly balanced   game."

"What do you mean?"

"Damon is forever testing women. I told you he doesn't trust them at   all. He wants to push you to your limits to see if you'll break. So push   back. Don't break, but break him if you can. Just make sure when you  do  that you move from a power play to love. He needs love. He needs to   remember how good it feels to trust someone fully." Matt waved the   server over, their food barely touched.

"Something wrong with the meal, Sir?" The server stopped by the table, confusion on his face.

"No, we're just full. We ate too many chips. Can you bring some to-go containers and the check?"

"Of course."

Bethany pulled her napkin from her lap and dropped it on the table next to her plate.

"He plays a hard game. I'm not used to playing games at all. I've rarely   dated because my time has been focused on my grades, but I guess I'm   willing to try."

"I hate the idea of either of you getting hurt by the other. We have a   long life of being family in one way or the other." Matt pulled out his   card, offering it to the server as he approached.

"I agree. The issue of him being my step-brother is a whole 'nother concern."

"One easily looked over. He's not your brother by blood and no one would   need to know that." Matt signed the bill and stood, reaching for her   chair to pull it back. "You feel like shopping?"

"I feel like sleeping for a week. I'm depressed, confused and have a slight buzz."

"Then we're twins. Let's go home and we'll pick up this date next week sometime."





Bethany slept like a rock, Saturday morning coming much too quickly. She   laid in bed for an hour after waking, hoping like hell she would slip   back into the restful darkness. No such luck.

Her phone buzzed on her nightstand and she flipped across the bed like her ass was on fire, hoping it was Damon.



I'm headed back today. I'll be at dad's before dinnertime. Be there.



She sent back a short message: Fuck you? No, fuck me?



He shot back a smiley face and the world fell into place. Bethany   flopped back on her bed, groaning loudly. He had her trapped into   thinking about him and needing him without reservation. The slightest   movement in his emotions sent her off one end of the spectrum or the   other.

"Great..." she muttered and got up, taking a quick shower and diving   back into her sheets until her mom poked her head in the open door.

"You up?"

"No."

"You respond well in your sleep then." Her mom laughed and walked in.   Bethany rolled over and curled up, smiling at the beautiful woman before   her.

"I'm brilliant in all forms. What can I say?"

Her mom popped her butt and shook her head. "And filled with humility to boot."

"What's up? We missed you last night. Matt and I went to get Mexican food. Wish you would've come with us."

"I went to get some new outfits for our wedding trip. I'll show them to   you later." Her mom yawned, covering her mouth. "Anyway. Kent called   from Seattle and said to tell you to pack up. He wants you to come up on   Sunday afternoon so you can see the audit first hand."

"I have to be on campus Thursday and Friday. I can't miss the first   week, mom." Bethany moved to sit up, the news causing worry to sprout.

"I told him that, baby. He's aware. He just wants you there Monday through Wednesday. You can fly back Wednesday night."

"What about Damon?"

"He's flying home today and will fly back out with you tomorrow."

"Are you coming too?"

"No. Kent wants me to, but I have too much to do. We leave for the   wedding in twelve days. I have to get a few packages shipped to the   hotel for the decorations and stuff."

"I thought it was going to be a small wedding."

"It was, until Kent's sister Allison got a hold of the information. Now   there are a good number of people joining us. I guess when your friends   are wealthy they can drop everything and go to Jamaica in the middle  of  the week." Her mom chuckled and stood, reaching over to kiss the top  of  her head. Bethany leaned into it, emotion tugging at her.         

     



 

"Mom... would you love me if I did something terrible?"

Her mom moved back, tilting her head to the side. "I would love you with   all my heart no matter what you did. I know you to be a girl that  makes  good choices, but if one day you don't... I'll be there to help  bury  the body."

Bethany laughed and fell back in her bed. "I love you, mom."

"Me more. Now, get up and I'll feed you. I know you love me only second to a good meal."



*



The morning turned to afternoon, Bethany padding around the house   waiting on Damon most of the day. She changed into her bathing suit, the   full piece white suit making her feel beautiful. It cut in deep on her   sides and pressed her breasts up. Damon would love it.

She walked out into the early afternoon heat and found a reclining   chair. Sliding down in it she pulled her sunglasses from her hair and   sighed softly. Matt must have still been asleep or back at his place.   They had stayed up until the wee hours of the morning watching movies   together. He had helped her into bed, his actions brotherly and loving.

A smile brushed across her lips at the thought of how easy it was going to be to fall into familial love with him.

"What's the smile for?"

Damon's voice jolted her. She pulled her sunglasses off and sat up,   squinting as she glanced up at him. The dark gray suit he wore brought   out the tan of his skin. Long black eyelashes and full lips catching her   attention next. She wanted more of him.