Her Three Entrepreneurs [The Hot Millionaires #8] (9 page)

Athena was curled up against him, still breathing heavily but not saying anything. Her silence concerned him. Had he gotten too carried away? He hated to think that he might have hurt her.

“Hmm, never better.”

“You sure I didn’t—”

“I’m sure.” Her radiant smile eradicated his doubts.

“Hold on a moment then.”

Bay got out of bed and went to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. He returned with a washcloth and tenderly cleaned Athena up.

“Welcome to our world,” he said, settling back on the bed and pulling her into his arms. She snuggled against his side and rested her head on his shoulder. “I knew you’d fit right in there.”

“Our world?” She lifted her head. “What do you mean?”

“Dex, Marty, and I don’t only share business ideas,” he said, watching her carefully for her reaction.

Athena gulped. “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

“I don’t want to put you off, babe. If you only want to play with me, then I guess the others will just have to get over it.”

“What makes you imagine they’d have any interest in me?”

Bay laughed. “It’s nothing to do with my imagination. They’ve got it bad for you, just like I have.”

She quirked a brow. “Really?”

“Yeah, really. When you were ranting about us on the television, the others barely took in a word you said. They were too busy raving about you.”

This time she sat up completely, her heavy breasts bouncing an invitation he was currently too exhausted to take up. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Nope, and I wasn’t much better myself. I already told you, every time I get anywhere near you, I get a raging hard-on.” He grinned at her. “Wanna see?” He grasped her hand and guided it to his cock, which was already half erect again. “You have a lot to answer for.”

“I just happened to be available, and you were horny.” She shrugged a little too casually, as though she was trying to convince herself that she spoke the truth. “What else can you expect when two almost-naked strangers come together in the middle of the night?”

He removed her hand before the desire to prove that it wasn’t just a case of opportunistic sex overcame his better judgement. He doubted whether she’d ever had it as hard as he’d just given it to her. She might have enjoyed it—no, she
did
enjoy it, Bay was absolutely sure of that—but she would need some recovery time.

“Have you always had such a negative self-image?”

“Is that what I have?” She rolled her head on his shoulder, settling herself into a more comfortable position. “I’ve never really thought about it before.”

“That’s probably what the guys and I picked up on. You exude sexuality without trying. And trust me, babe, that makes you damned near unique.”

Her head popped up again. “I do? It does?”

He smiled at her incredulity. “Yeah, you sure do, and yes it does.”

He leaned over and kissed the end of her nose, consumed with feelings that were totally alien to him—feelings that ought to have scared him shitless. He didn’t just want to fuck this available, highly attractive, and slightly vulnerable female. He actually wanted to get to know her. To protect her, sort out her problems, and yeah, to play games with her. To share her with his buddies, because there was so much she needed to know, and they were exactly the right people to teach her.

Bay didn’t pause to examine his feelings because, against all the odds, they didn’t frighten him. Perhaps that was because, unlike a lot of the women he’d met over the years, she wasn’t trying to cling. Whenever that happened to any of them, they ran for cover because they weren’t ready for commitment. But this time Bay wasn’t going anywhere. At least not until he and the guys had explored Athena’s sensuality and made her aware of what she could be.

Perhaps not even then.

Hell, what am I thinking?

“And you’re an expert on the subject, I suppose.”

Athena’s sultry voice recalled his attention. “Naturally.”

“Do you have any idea how arrogant that sounded?”

He laughed. “Just telling it like it is. Anyhow, I didn’t hear you complaining about the quality of the service.” He canted his head and smiled down at her. “Remind me again. How many times did I make you climax?”

“Oh, all right. I suppose you were adequate.”

“Adequate!” He grunted the word, trying not to laugh as he raised a hand. “That’s just the sort of remark that’ll earn you a good spanking. I’ll have you know that I don’t do
adequate.
”

“Actually, I hate to say this and stoke your already overinflated ego, but I think there’s a lot more to you than meets the eye.”

He grinned. “Baby, you’ve seen it all.” He spread his arms wide, giving her a clearer view of his nakedness. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.”

“I don’t mean physically. You’re obviously a high achiever.”

Bay shrugged. “We are what we are.”

“Yes, but you’re still very young to be so successful. You made it sound so easy when you said you stopped managing a club and started your own, just like that.” She wrinkled her brow. “Have you always been driven to succeed?”

“I was raised in Virginia. My old man was a coal miner, and that’s the future he had planned out for me.”

Athena shook her head. “That would have been a terrible waste.”

“That’s what I thought, too, just as soon as I was old enough to see things clearly for myself. My dad was old before his time, weakened by all the hard labor. But he was content with his work and never hankered for anything better. He made a home for us all and went fishing on weekends, and that was enough for him. I knew from an early age it would never do it for me. I started getting good grades at school, fought with the old man to let me go to college, and went on from there.”

“Is your dad still alive? He must be really proud of your achievements.”

“Yes, I guess all my family are proud, but they never ask me much about it. I’ve offered all my siblings positions in my clubs, but they’re not interested.”

“They probably enjoy being part of their community. Some people like routine. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Yeah, I know.” He shook his head. “I just don’t understand their lack of ambition, that’s all. Anyway, my dad’s retired now. The only difference that it’s made to him is that he now fishes just about every day.”

“Not everyone wants to change the world.”

“True. I have two sisters and a brother, all still in Virginia. The girls are married with kids. My brother works in the mine, and so do my sisters’ husbands.” He shuddered. “That could have been me.”

“Presumably they’re happy.”

“Yeah, that’s what depresses me.”

“Why?” She leaned up on one elbow and looked down at him, frowning. “Surely you’re pleased with your achievements?”

“I guess, but something’s missing. That’s why I keep striving for more. It’s partly why I agreed to start something up on this side of the pond.”

“The international entrepreneur,” she said without a trace of irony.

“Sounds stupid when you put it like that.” He smiled up at her. “I’ve never told anyone that before, not even the others, although I suspect they’ve guessed.”

“You three are pretty tight.”

“We are. We’re each trying to prove something to ourselves, in our different ways.”

“In work and in play.”

“Speaking of which,” he said, pushing her back against the pillows and looming over her, “are you willing to let the three of us show you the ropes?” He smiled. “And I mean that quite literally.”

“Yes,” she said, not even pausing to think about it. “Absolutely.”

“We have no end of toys we can introduce you to.” He grinned and flicked a finger across one of her nipples. “Lady, we’ll drive you wild.”

“Not here you won’t. Gramps will probably be home again soon.”

“Yes, let’s hope so. But you’re not tied to the place twenty-four seven, are you?”

“No, but if Gramps is convalescing, and someone’s out to harm him, I can’t leave him alone.”

“We’ll find out who that is soon enough.”

“How?”

“Well, we have that appointment with the bank manager tomorrow, remember.” She nodded. “Marty’s gonna tell your friend Jennings that we’re in negotiations with your grandfather to purchase this place.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Why?”

“I dunno, exactly. Call it a hunch.” Bay paused to formulate his argument. “The bank has supported you for years, and then, out of the blue, they pull the rug. Who would have the authority to do that?”

“Locally, just Jerry Jennings, I suppose. But it could be that the youth I spoke to was telling the truth and the bank’s head office has instigated a new policy.”

“Possibly, but if that’s the case, you would have gotten more warning.” Bay shook his head. “I get the feeling that Jennings is personally responsible for cutting off your funding, which would explain why he wouldn’t see you himself. And if he is, then he must have a personal reason for doing so.”

“You think he’s trying to get us out of the farm?” She frowned. “Why?”

“I have no idea. That’s why I’ve asked Marty to put the cat amongst the bankers, so to speak.”

“Even if he is involved, he never would have authorised an attack on Gramps.”

“Shush, go to sleep.” He snuggled down and pulled her with him. “We need to be up before your workers get here, and I assume they’ll arrive at some ungodly hour.”

Athena nodded. “Afraid so.”

He kissed her deeply and then watched her profile as her features gradually relaxed. Her breathing became deep and even, and she was asleep in seconds.

* * * *

Athena woke feeling totally at peace with the world. Even thoughts of her grandfather’s condition failed to dispel her good mood. She couldn’t remember when she’d last slept so well. Stretching her arms above her head, she felt soreness in her nipples. It brought their activities of the night before crashing back, and she grinned like an idiot. That grinning was short-lived when she realized she was still in Bay’s bed.

Alone.

The space next to her was empty, the sheets stone cold. It was barely light. How long had he been up? Her disappointment at his speedy exit was acute. Talk about insulting.

Idiot! What else do you expect?

What she’d actually hoped for was to be woken with demands for a repeat performance. It had been the last thing on her mind before she fell asleep, using his broad chest as a pillow. It was
the
most comfortable pillow she’d ever known. Athena shook her head, telling herself to get real. He obviously had different priorities.

Those priorities became apparent when the smell of frying bacon drifted up the stairs. He was cooking her breakfast. When had someone last done that for her? How did he know that she was ravenous? She glanced at the clock and gasped. It was six thirty. Max and George would be here at seven.

She leapt out of bed, had a two-minute shower, pulled on the first clothes that came to hand, and dashed downstairs.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” he said, glancing up from the stove and grinning at her. “Okay?”

She was temporarily unable to say a word. He was so drop-dead gorgeous, even first thing in the morning, that he took her breath away. Her own eyes were still puffy with sleep, and she was well aware that she looked far from her best first thing. The same couldn’t be said of him, damn him! He had been so considerate last night, thrilling her with his dominating ways but always mindful of her comfort. He’d spoken as though he and his buddies would take her several steps further along that road, and she’d actually believed it. But in the cold light of day it seemed impossible.

Bay Marshall was the only man she’d ever met who could increase her pulse rate and get her motor running just by standing at a stove, frying bacon.

He was also totally out of her league.

Get over yourself, Athena.

“Starving,” she said. “Good job you woke up. The guys will be here soon.”

“That’s what I figured. I’d best keep out of sight until they set to work.”

Athena wanted to object. She wasn’t afraid to be seen with him, but he obviously had issues about being seen with her.

Okay, message received loud and clear.

“Yes, they’ll be finishing up bringing the hay in, so they won’t be anywhere near the house for most of the day.”

Athena noticed that Bay had already let Rowan out. Just as well because Athena had forgotten all about him.

“I’ll just pop out and feed the chickens,” she said. “Max can check on the rest of the livestock when he gets here.”

She returned to the kitchen a few minutes later, Rowan at her heels.

“I assume you’re going to see your grandfather at the hospital,” Bay said, placing a huge fry-up and mug of fresh coffee in front of her.

“Thanks,” she said, taking the seat opposite him and tucking in. “Yes. If they allow him to come home, then I’ll bring him back. If not…well, I haven’t thought that far.”