The Billionaire’s Pawn

STRIKER

How did I end up in her blanket, my arms wrapped around her, her hands slipped under my shirt, fingers clawing my back as we kissed like there was no tomorrow? I had no idea.

My thumb brushed along the side of her jaw, and I tilted my head, slanting my mouth to hers as I claimed her mouth in deep-suck on her tongue. The taste of the sweet flavor in her mouth intoxicated me. Even if I wanted to stop, I couldn’t. She consumed my senses.

I didn’t remember getting in her blanket or kissing her, but yeah, we were doing it. And having a hard-on never got this hard-it fucking hurt.

She did another dig of her fingers into the back. Her moan surrounded us. Her breasts pressed against my chest, her leg tightly wrapped around my waist as she thrust her hips, her core against my aching cock.

It felt so good.

We were burning, and we still had our clothes on. Our heartbeats were strong and steady as we thrust and moved our conjoined hips.

I had to be dreaming because things like this didn’t happen between us. Our connection was incomparable.

My eyes widened. My heart stopped. And I pulled away just enough, our lips barely touched.

And London seemed to realize what we were doing. Her darkened eyes cracked open and were still filled with unsated lust and questions. Yes, she was turned on, like I was.

As well as I was, I had a lot of questions but couldn’t form coherent words. We were still in the same position. Seemingly none of us wanted to pull away.

Then we burst out laughing. Our voices echoed in the room. Our neighbors could probably hear us. That was how made us pulled apart.

“Were we dreaming?” we asked in unison.

“Jesus.” I fixed my sweatpants. I was still hard.

“We kissed,” she said humorously.

“We almost-”

“Yeah. What was that all about?”

I looked at her, and she was still smiling, her hand on her face. “We definitely remember if we slept together that night.”

“Yeah. Agreed.”

“Definitely.” I ignored that I noticed her press her thighs together. For sure, she was wet. I could smell her arousal. I would love to continue what we started if I could predict how she would react.

That kiss was something that I had no doubt would be forever memorable. I could still taste her on my tongue and felt the pain of her claws on my flesh and the way my cock almost burst from my boxers. I knew we had an undeniable connection-it was special, something I could look forward to in this unusual relationship.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I blinked at her question.

“I should go back to my room. Otherwise, we may end up more than dry-humping,” I joked just to clear the sexual tension in the air.

“Yeah. Sorry.” She grinned sheepishly. “And you should do something with that.” I knew exactly what she meant.

I dragged myself out of bed. “I enjoy a cold shower, Vanderford.”

“Good luck.” She tried hard to hide her laugh under the blanket.

“Good night.” I didn’t look back as I walked to the door. “I will not lock my door. If you feel scared alone.”

“And then what?”

“I will sleep on the floor.” I closed the door behind me.

I was true to my words. I would sleep on the floor. I couldn’t afford to let that happen again. Although I would love to kiss her more, cuddle her, and even if it led to sleeping together, I wanted that to happen without some dream-induced libido influencing us.

***

I woke up early. It was only five in the morning. After I talked and sent the details to Neke, I ran on a treadmill for a while.

Neke seemed unaware of the arrangement between London and me, but she wouldn’t hear it from me. I wanted her to know from my future wife since they were best friends.

I stopped midway to find Reef and Linden in my kitchen, making breakfast.

“The last time I did this was when I was protecting Cenric’s ass.”

“And you think you could just come to my house and use my kitchen?” Of course, it was a joke. I joined them and took the smoothie Reef offered.

“I think we passed beyond that, brother.” He went to the pancake and flipped it using just the pan. The way he whisked the egg looked unbelievably satisfying. He then tossed some salt and crushed black pepper into the bowl. Then he set it aside.

“How’s the lady?” Reef asked.

“Good-”

I froze at the voice behind me. London seemed to realize we were not alone. I turned to her. She still had my shirt and boxers, and socks on. If anyone wasn’t aware of our sleeping arrangements, they could easily see us sleeping together. That was how comfortable she was with me.

“Good morning, sweetheart.” Linden smiled brightly.

“Good morning, ma’am,” Reef greeted her.

“Oh, hi. Good morning.” Her cheeks blossomed rosy pink.

“I crashed the kitchen. Come on here.”

“Um, Reef. Sorry about last night.” She smiled at him.

“My apology, too, ma’am.”

“Just London.” She came beside me.

“No, ma’am.”

“No. Just London or I won’t talk to you.”

Linden laughed. “You heard the pretty lady.”

“London it is. You were born in London?” Reef asked.

“Yes, at St. Thomas.”

“I don’t know where it is, but it sounds fancy.”

“Kind of.” London looked at me. “You’re sweaty, Cade.”

“I just came from a ran and found my kitchen with our unwanted guests.”

She beamed. “I can’t cook. And it would be embarrassing if I burned the entire kitchen down on my first day of stay.”

“Way more embarrassing than last-” I couldn’t finish my sentence, London elbowed me, and the two guys caught up quickly.

“So, there’s more embarrassing than daddy dear-” Linden laughed out loud as he carefully rolled the egg on the pan.

“You knew?” London asked him before she turned to me.

“Don’t look at him. Since your daddy fired him, I put two and two together, and now this?” He placed the omelet on the plate, tossed some sliced cherry tomatoes, and set a sliced avocado on the side.

“Oh, we didn’t sleep in the same bed,” she quickly defended us as she took the plate from Linden. “Thank you. Looks delicious.”

“And why not?”

“Don’t answer him,” I said as I grabbed an OJ from the fridge. “Vanderford, do you drink coffee?”

“Do you have tea?”

“You don’t even know what she drinks?” Reef asked in a whisper.

“Why are you whispering?” Linden asked him, making another omelet. He put in a good amount of grated cheese. Once he was done, he garnished it with chopped herbs.

“I don’t wanna offend our guy here,” Reef replied.

“I drink coffee.”

“See? She drinks coffee,” Linden chuckled a little.

“Strike, she’s here,” Reef announced.

“Let her come in here.”

A few moments later, Neke walked in.

“Neke? What are you doing here?” They did a cheek-to-cheek kiss.

“You’re going to work, right?” Neke asked. “Because I brought your work clothes.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

We joined them at the table as we had breakfast together.

“Oh, wow. You should open your own restaurant, Linden. This is incredible.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

Neke had the same reaction on her face.

***

Linden left with Reef. London’s bodyguard, Reed, arrived while she was still with Neke in the room.

“Reed.” We shook hands.

“Cade.”

“I have something to do today. Please, keep her safe.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Thanks.”

Neke went to the car first with Reed.

“I’ll be busy today, but if you need me, just give me a call.”

London in white corporate dress was a sight for sore eyes. “I’ll be busy in the office, too. Are you sure you don’t wanna work for me?” There was a pun in her voice.

“Sorry, Vanderford.”

“Misogynist much?”

“I like you just fine.”

“I love your design.”

“Design?”

“The bag.”

“I see. I have a part-time job at Cade Premium. Product design.”

“Oh. That makes sense. You’re not completely jobless.”

“I work from home, but if you need me and my opinion, just let me know.”

“Thanks. I keep that in mind.” She came to hug me goodbye.

“Take care, okay.”

“You too.”

After I showered, I went to the jewelry shop to take the ring I had purchased. I just guessed her ring size. I hoped it fit her. The engagement ring was gorgeous, though, and I would choose this design if I had proposed to my girlfriend.

I called Linus to inform him that London and I had decided to get married in a civil wedding, and he wasn’t impressed, but that was not his decision anymore.

It was lunchtime. I decided to visit London in her office. Everyone seemed bustling when I entered the premises, but I found Neke on her desk.

“Hey, white knight.” Neke playfully poked my chest.

“Where’s Vanderford?”

“Nice. I like how you call each other. So what if you both are already married? Do you still call each other by surnames?” She knew, judging by the looked on her face. “She told me. And she’s in her office. You might wanna prepare your Kung Fu skills when you enter to dodge whatever she throws at you.”

“What’s wrong?” I suddenly got worried. My mood soured.

“Just get in. I’m sure she’ll explain.”

“Thanks.” I pushed the door, and I hadn’t yet entered; she was already yelling.

“Get out!” She was facing the window as she pointed her finger in my direction. “I don’t wanna talk right now.”

“What happened?”

She froze as she recognized my voice and finally faced me. “What are you doing here?”

“Vanderford, what’s wrong?”

She breathed deeply before she met my gaze. She looked pissed, as if someone just wore her favorite shoes without permission. She went to sit on her chair, still not talking.

I joined her as I sat at the desk. I found pens, pencils, and papers on the floor when I looked around. My guess was she threw them out of anger.

“Vanderford, I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what’s happening.” I held her hand.

She then lifted her chin, meeting my gaze. “I’m not ready to let people know I’m getting married.”

“I understand.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Then my father just did the opposite.” She rose from her seat, went to find something on the floor, and picked up her phone.

“Broken?”

“No.” She started scrolling, and then she gave it to me.

It was a post of her father on Twitter. Linus had fifteen million followers on Twitter, and he just tweeted-I’m so thrilled my daughter, London, found the right man for her with ring emoji.

I laughed as I was between pissed and thrilled at the same time. “Unbelievable.”

“That’s what made me furious. And look at the views and likes. He can’t just delete it and forget it never happened.”

“I just called him before I came that we decided to get married in a civil ceremony, and he was pissed at me, telling me that you deserve a grand wedding.”

“Well, it’s not on him, is it?” I felt like she had something in mind against her father. “Let’s do it.”

“Your father might not honor it, Vanderford.”

“Then we’ll get married at the back of your house.”

I laughed. “He’s right. You deserved better, but whatever you want.” I picked up the ring from my pocket and flipped it open. “We have an unconventional relationship, but I’d love nothing more than to be your partner in crime for life.” I went on my knees. “London Hester Marguerite, will you marry me?”

She laughed out loud before she gave me her hand. “You know my full name. Yes!”