Billionaire Beast(7)

He wasn’t going to back down without a fight, and then he’d win. Tonight he had a taste of her, and that wasn’t going to be the last time. However, Jay opened up a great deal of possibilities.





Chapter Four



“I can’t,” Jay said.

“What? Sure you can. You’ve been sleeping with women all this time. You’re not in love with me. We’re best friends. We did that, and you said it made everything too awkward.” Temperance looked at Richard, but he was too busy staring across at her friend. The way he was looking at Jay made her nervous.

What was Richard thinking?

She didn’t have the first clue, and that scared her.

“I know what I’ve done, and I know what I feel.”

“No, this can’t be happening.” She tucked her legs up underneath her and stared at her friend, not really seeing him. “This night is just getting crazier by the second.”

“I love you, Tempe,” Jay said.

She shook her head. “I’ve just seen a woman leave. A woman you call your Friday, or Red, because you can’t remember her name.”

“I didn’t sleep with her.”

“Don’t try to pretend you’ve not had sex with every single woman that you’ve been with.”

“No, I have slept with her, but I’ve not slept with each woman in a long time. It has been a few months. I’ve been cutting things off with them. You wouldn’t have noticed as you’ve been working all the time.”

“I can’t believe this right now. You’re telling me that you’re in love with me?” She was aware of Richard watching the whole thing between her and Jay.

“Yes.”

“No. I can’t do this now. Not with everything.” She got to her feet, and turned to look at Richard. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I just—I’ve got to go to bed.”

She left the room, not looking back, and slammed her door closed.

None of this could be happening. She didn’t for a second think it was possible. Jay didn’t love her, and Richard coming to her at her apartment, was just crazy.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she stared down at the floor, trying to make sense of everything, and once again, she drew a blank.

There was no way to make sense of what the hell was going on with those two.

****

“Why did you have to do that?” Jay asked.

“Why did you have to keep it a secret?” Richard was intrigued by the man. He didn’t feel jealous as he saw an opportunity here to live out part of his desires. Jay had been in her life for a lot longer than he had. From just listening to them, he knew Jay had been Temperance’s first, and they shared an apartment. There was a chance they could share, and he was more than willing to give that a shot.

“You don’t just advertise that shit.” Jay stood and started to pace.

“You’re supposed to be best friends.”

“We are best friends.”

“And yet you can’t even tell her how you feel.” Richard rested his head on his hand, curious about the man pacing before him.

“You know what, leave.”

“Why?”

“This is my apartment, and if you don’t leave, I’m going to beat the shit out of you.” Jay moved to stand in front of him. “I don’t give a shit if you’re some kind of biker.”

Richard always loved it when men stood over him. It was what made standing up so exciting.

Getting to his feet, Richard stared down at her friend. “Just so you know, I won’t be backing down. Tempe is mine.”

“Do you really think she’s going to go for a guy like you?”

“I had her on my desk this very evening. I’ve got a better shot than you. I’ll see her soon.” Richard made his way to the door, glancing back at Jay. “It was nice to meet you, and I have a feeling this isn’t going to be the last time.”

He always liked to get ahead of the competition.

Leaving Temperance’s apartment, Richard climbed into his car and made his way to the luxury clubhouse that he shared with nine other billionaires. They were the closest thing he had to a family, and to a brotherhood. He’d never grown attached to anyone else. The billionaire bikers had become his family, and without them, his main focus would be on his business.

Richard loved the club, and he also loved helping others.

The women they had saved, that was what the meaning of the club stood for him. The BBMC, protected the vulnerable, and saved those in need on a personal level. It wasn’t just about signing a check, which he could easily do. Anyone could sign a check, but only a few could get their hands dirty.

Driving toward the club, it gave him time to think about his little PA. Temperance was proving to be different from how he imagined her. He truly believed she was a prim and proper woman, who believed promiscuity was what was wrong with the world. Of course, he’d gotten it wrong on every single count.

Jay opened up something that Richard had tried to ignore. He loved sharing a woman, and with Jay, it would be the perfect way to start a relationship that excited him. Every other time, sharing a woman, the sex had been amazing, but something had always been missing. He and Tempe had a connection, Tempe had a connection with Jay, it could work.

Parking at the underground parking facility, he saw there were several of the club members already there.

Making his way toward the main bar, he found Lewis, John, Blake, and Jackson at the bar drinking. Russ and Anna were also present.

“Hey, Richard,” Russ said.

He gave the men a nod, and made his way up to the bar, taking a seat. There was no sign of the women, and he glanced around the main room, seeing it empty besides the men sitting there.

Anna rounded the bar, and gave him a smile, her rounded stomach showing signs of her late pregnancy. “What can I get you?”

“You’re a barmaid now as well?” Richard asked.

“Just for tonight. Sean, Jamie, and Malcolm are keeping the rest of the women busy.”

“Russ is not keeping you busy?”

She laughed. “Not this week, no.”

“How come?” Richard’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Enough, Richard,” Russ said.

“What? It’s a perfect reasonable question. Why do you have to bite my head off?”

“It’s personal. Leave it alone.”

“What can I get you?” Anna asked.

“An explanation would be good.” Richard folded his arms.

“Why are you being a dick?” Russ stood up, and turned to face him.

“I thought we shared this kind of information.”

“Ignore Richard. He’s got his own issues. He fucked his PA this evening,” Lewis said.

Turning to the other brother, Richard glared. The drama tonight was starting to piss him off. “Does Mandy know who you are yet?”

“You hit below the fucking belt,” Lewis said, getting to his feet. The stool clattered to the floor, and Richard stood as well. “What the fuck is your problem?”

“My problem? I ask a reasonable question, and that fucker is going on the defense. I remember a time when we could ask this kind of shit—”

“Stop!” Anna said, yelling to be heard. “We’ve had a little complication, and the doctor has advised that I take it easy. I’m not to strain myself or have sex. That’s all I’m going to tell you. Please, don’t irritate Russ anymore. It has been … tough.”

Richard was the world’s biggest dick. No, he wasn’t a good friend, and he was an asshole. “Shit. I’m so sorry.”

Anna’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m going to go lie down.”

She left, and Richard wanted to beat the shit out of himself, which was hard to do.

“Fuck! You just couldn’t let it go, could you?”

Running fingers through his hair, he looked at his friend. “I’m sorry, man. What is going on?”

“She’s having problems, and I brought her here to relax, and because we had a club meeting tonight, which you missed.”

“A club meeting? I didn’t know we had a meeting.”

“I couldn’t get through to your cell, and I told Tina to let you know.”

“Shit. I left my cell at home. Tina didn’t give me any fucking message.” Running fingers through his hair, he looked around at the club brothers, staring at him with disapproval. He got that, and he understood their anger.

“Can I go and apologize?” he asked.

“Yeah, but don’t upset her anymore.”

Richard nodded, and before he left, he turned to Lewis. “I’m sorry, man. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I’m an asshole.”

“That you are, and I appreciate the fact you know the truth, and that you are an asshole.”

“How is Mandy?”

“Confused, scared, terrified, and she wakes up at night, screaming, not knowing what the hell is going on. Whatever those fuckers did to her, I hope she never remembers.”

“Has she seen her family yet?”

Lewis shook his head. “No. She doesn’t want to see them. I try. At the moment I’ve been able to get her in a room with a two way mirror, where she doesn’t see them, but they can see her. Not to talk to her, just to know that she’s alive, and she’s doing okay. They’re trusting me to take care of her.” Lewis snorted. “I can’t take care of her. I couldn’t even stop her from being taken.”