The Seduction of Alex Parker Read online

  “I think what you’re wearing is inappropriate and you should go change.”

  He gave me a blank stare. “What?”

  “You have no shirt on and it’s inappropriate. Please go put on a shirt before we sit down and eat.”

  The corners of his mouth curved up as he walked over to me and ran his thumb across my lips.

  “You didn’t seem to be complaining when I was on top of you totally naked.”

  I gulped as I remembered that night and the things he did to me.

  “That was different. We were having sex. We’re not having sex now, so please go and clothe yourself.”

  “Fine. I will. But don’t be surprised if later, the clothes come off.” He winked and walked away.

  My stomach fluttered at the thought. I set dinner on the patio and a few moments later, Alex walked out wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a short-sleeve polo shirt.

  “Better?” he asked as he held out his hands.

  “Yes. Much better.”

  As he sat down at the table, he looked around. “Where’s the salt?”

  “No salt. It’s bad for your blood pressure. Starting today, I’m going to make sure you eat properly.”

  “Shit. I love salt.”

  “You’ll learn to live without it. So, since I told you my life story, I want to hear all about Alex Parker. How the hell did you become a billionaire by the age of thirty?”

  “How did you know how old I was?”

  “I googled you.”

  He raised his eyebrow and gave a small smile. “Why?”

  “Because I needed to find out who the stranger was that my brother was sending me to stay with. And by the way? What sort of brother does that?”

  “He obviously trusts me.” He chuckled.

  “Big mistake on his part.” I smiled.

  “Apparently, after what happened the other night.”

  I laughed. “Go on, tell me about yourself.”

  “I came from money. My grandfather started the company, my father took over when he died, and I did the same when my father passed away.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he passed. How long ago?”

  “It’s been about five years.”

  “And what about your mom?”

  “She and my father divorced when I was seventeen and I haven’t seen her since. She moved to Hawaii.”

  “Oh nice. I mean, not nice for you, but Hawaii is nice. I was there for about four months. I loved it.”

  “Of course you were,” he spoke as he ate his steak.

  “May I ask why you haven’t seen her?”

  “She was the reason they got divorced. She had met someone else and left him. I don’t like the guy she’s with, so I never bothered to keep in touch with her. She didn’t even have the decency to come to my father’s funeral.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Nah, don’t be.”

  I could hear the pain that resided in his voice as he spoke about her.

  “So you inherited the company. Were you ready to take over?”

  “I sure was. The board didn’t think so and they thought it would be best if I waited a few more years, but I stood my ground and showed them that I could take the company further. That’s when I invested in some hotels, made a national chain, and made the company billions.”

  I held up my wine glass to him. “Congratulations. I’m very proud of you.”

  He tipped his glass to mine. “Thank you, Miss James.”

  “Tell me what you do for fun. Because since I’ve been here, you don’t do anything but work.”

  “I have sex with beautiful women. That’s what I do for fun.” He smirked.

  Ouch. For some reason, that stung. The thought of him being with other women sent a fire burning through my veins.

  “Besides sex, you nympho. Do you have any hobbies?”

  “I golf.”

  “Of course you do.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” He glared at me.

  “You’re a corporate billionaire and they all golf. I bet you conduct business on the golf course too.”

  “And what if I did.”

  “Ha!” I pointed at him. “I knew it. Typical corporate man!”

  “I don’t appreciate being stereotyped like that.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Then step out of the ‘corporate man’ stereotype and do something different.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. Think about it and get back to me.”

  He chuckled. “Okay. Because I have time to do that.”

  My light and fluffy mood changed to seriousness. “Alex, I’m serious. You had a health scare today and you need to slow down. You’re so fucking filthy rich that you’re set for life. You don’t need to keep going at the rate you are. Life is too short to live that way. You need to let go and discover who you are outside of the corporate world. Relax and have some fun.”

  “You mean become irresponsible with life like you? No thanks.”

  Fuck. Did he really just say that? It was nice to know what he really thought of me.

  “I’m not irresponsible, Alex.”

  He laughed. “Come on, Emerson. Yes you are. You travel around the world without any care or responsibility. You don’t take life seriously. Isn’t that why Adam forced you to come back here? So he can put an end to this irresponsible life you’re living?”

  Burn. Burn. Burn. Who the fuck did he think he was?

  I set down my fork, took the napkin from my lap, threw it on my plate, and pointed my finger at him.

  “This is my life and nobody tells me how to live it. I have no regrets with how I’ve lived because I’ve been to hell and back a thousand times over! So you can take your irresponsible words and shove them up your ass, Parker.” I turned on my heels and stormed into the house, going to my bedroom, locking the door, and throwing myself on my bed. I refused to cry.

  Chapter 14

  Alex

  Did she really just tell me to shove my irresponsible words up my ass? I sat there shaking my head. I didn’t say anything that wasn’t the truth, and the fact that she got so pissed off by it showed that she knew it was true. I sighed as I got up from my chair and cleared the table. Seeing her so upset by what I said was starting to bother me, so I went to her room and knocked on the door.

  “Emerson, let’s talk, please.”

  She didn’t respond.

  I turned the knob, only to find it was locked. “Emerson, open this door! This is my fucking house,” I yelled.

  Suddenly, the door opened. “Stop yelling. I bet your blood pressure is sky high right now.”

  “You make me yell,” I spoke as I stepped inside the room.

  Walking over to her, I placed my hands on her shoulders. She pushed away from me.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “You don’t really mean that,” I spoke as I placed my hand on her cheek.

  “Yes I do.” She looked down but didn’t pull away.

  “I’m sorry if I sounded harsh. Sometimes, things just fly out of my mouth.”

  “I know and it’s annoying.”

  I smiled as I lifted her chin and softly brushed my lips against hers.

  “Do you forgive me?”

  “No.”

  “Is there anything I can do to make you forgive me?” I smiled softly as my hand traveled up her shirt and over her breast, pulling down the cup of her bra and taking her nipple between my fingers.

  “No.” I saw a small smile escape her lips.

  “Are you sure?” I took her hand and placed it on my hard cock.

  “Yes.”

  “Yes you’re sure or yes you want this?”

  “I’m sure.”

  I unbuttoned her shorts and took them down along with her panties. I kneeled down, and my mouth tasted her. She was wet and I knew damn well she wanted me. She moaned as I plunged a finger inside her.

  “Still sure?” I whispered.

  “Damn you, Parker.” She placed
her hands on my head as my tongue explored her. I smiled as I stood up and lifted her shirt over her head. Unhooking her bra, I tossed it to the floor and let my mouth devour her beautiful breasts.

  I lightly pushed her back on the bed and hovered over her as she moaned to the pleasure I was giving her. The sweet sounds that escaped her turned me on and I couldn’t become any harder than I already was. She threw her head back and let out a soft cry when I inserted another finger and sent her into ecstasy as she orgasmed. Standing up, I stripped out of my clothes and lay down next to her, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her on her side so she was facing me.

  Brushing a strand of hair from her face, I softly kissed her mouth as my cock slowly thrust inside her. We gasped at the pleasure as she tilted her head and my lips explored her neck. She wrapped her leg around my waist, forcing me to deepen inside her. Grabbing hold of her breast, I sped up and moved in and out of her swiftly. Her pussy swelled over my cock, causing it to tingle with delight and making me want to come. But I had to hold back. This wasn’t going to be over so soon. I slowed down the pace and we stared into each other’s eyes. Reaching down, I rubbed her swollen clit until she couldn’t take anymore and she released herself to me. Rolling on top of her, I didn’t want to hold back anymore. I pounded into her, fast and hard, giving her everything I had. I halted as I pushed one last time, burying myself deep inside her as I filled her with my come. Collapsing on top of her, I held her tightly and kissed the side of her neck as her arms tightened themselves around me. I pulled out of her and rolled onto my back.

  “Am I forgiven?” I asked with a smile.

  “Maybe.” She smirked.

  I climbed off the bed and grabbed some tissues from the nightstand. She got up, pulled back the sheets, climbed in, and held them up to me. I climbed in next to her and wrapped my arms around her as she snuggled into me, lightly running her fingers up and down my arm.

  “Why do you break so many hearts?” I asked.

  “Relationships are fun as long as they don’t get too serious, and the guys I dated got too serious. Which I found weird because it’s usually the girls who become so attached. I can’t even settle down in life, let alone settle down with one guy. What about you? Why have you broken so many hearts?”

  “I guess you could say I think the same way you do, but I’m settled in my life with a home and my company.”

  She turned on her side and propped herself up on her elbow. “Since you’re settled, don’t you want to settle down and have a family?”

  “I never really gave it much thought. I like dating different women and it just seems silly to settle down with one for the rest of your life. I mean, look at how my parents turned out.”

  “True, I guess. My parents were so in love that it was quite embarrassing sometimes.”

  “Growing up with that didn’t make you want to settle down with someone special?” I asked as I ran my finger across her forehead.

  She looked down and began playing with the bed sheet. “Maybe it did once. But since the accident, my views on life changed.”

  “What about Adam? How did he handle everything?”

  “He doesn’t talk about it. He never did. All he would say was, ‘They’re gone and we need to move on.’ So I did and he disapproves.”

  “How often did you see him if you haven’t been back here in eight years?”

  “We talked on the phone a few times a week and I usually saw him at Christmas. But he would come to wherever I was.”

  “I don’t mean to upset you by reliving the past, but where was Adam when the accident happened?”

  “He was away at college. My parents were taking me and my sister to the ballet and it was raining something awful outside. My dad could barely see the road and my mom kept telling him to pull over. He said if he pulled over, we were going to be late and he didn’t want to disappoint his girls. We were coming around a curve and the last thing I remember was my mom screaming, ‘Look out,’ and the car rolling over several times before hitting a tree and stopping. I remember grabbing Emily’s hand and squeezing it tight. Then everything went black except I could still hear voices in the distance. As the voices got closer, I heard a man say, ‘This one is still alive.’ After that, I don’t remember a thing except waking up in the hospital three months later.”

  “I’m so sorry, Emerson,” I softly spoke as I stroked her cheek. “Is that what your nightmare was about?”

  “Yeah. After the accident, I had them just about every night. But once I left California, they stopped. Now that I’m back, so are they, but not as frequent as they were. I’m going to go to sleep now.”

  I kissed her forehead before she snuggled against me and I wrapped my arms tightly around her. I wanted her to feel safe and I wanted her to sleep in peace.

  Chapter 15

  Emerson

  When I opened my eyes, I was alone. I glanced over at the clock and it was six-thirty. Shit. Where was Alex? I needed to get up and start breakfast. Climbing out of bed, I noticed a piece of paper propped up on the dresser. Walking over to it, I picked it up and discovered it was from Alex.

  Emerson,

  No need to worry about breakfast this morning. I needed to get into the office early since I wasn’t there yesterday. I didn’t want to wake you. See you later.

  Alex

  At least he didn’t want to wake me, but I wouldn’t have minded if he had. Something happened last night between us. There was a connection. I had never told any of the guys I dated about the accident, my parents, or sister. There was no need for them to know because I wasn’t sticking around. But with Alex, I opened up as if he were my best friend. It felt natural with him and I couldn’t figure out why. I’d be gone in a couple of months and Alex would be nothing but a distant memory like the rest. I set the note down, showered, and got dressed. Since I didn’t get the chance to make him breakfast, I decided I was going to make him lunch and bring it to his office.

  After preparing Alex’s lunch, I hopped in Adam’s car and googled the address of Alex’s office building. I parked the car in the parking garage and stepped inside the doors of Parker Enterprises. I found the directory on the wall next to a beautiful wall fountain and saw his office was located on the top floor. Of course it was. As I took the elevator up to the thirtieth floor, it suddenly dawned on me that he might be mad I brought him lunch. Oh well, he’d have to get over it. Someone had to make sure he ate properly, and what better person to do it than his chef. The elevator doors opened and his secretary wasn’t at her desk and his office door was closed. I lightly knocked and then stepped inside. A wave of shock swept over Alex’s face when he looked at me.

  “Oh. I’m sorry. Your secretary wasn’t at her desk and I didn’t know you were in a meeting.”

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  The guy sitting in the chair across from his desk turned and looked at me. He looked oddly familiar.

  “I brought you lunch.” I held up the bag. “I’ll just leave it here.” I walked inside and set it on the table. “I’m so sorry.” I started to sneak out.

  “Hey,” the guy sitting across from Alex spoke. “I know you.” He slowly got up from his chair and walked over to me, checking me out from head to toe.

  I looked at Alex, who was shaking his head.

  “You must have me mistaken for someone else.” I gave a small, fake smile.

  “No.” He shook his finger at me. “You. That’s it! You’re that stripper from Vegas.”

  Alex’s eyes widened as he began to walk over to me. I studied the short man with the dark brown hair and the beady eyes.

  “You’re that man that grabbed my ass and tried to pull me down when I was on stage!”

  “Excuse me?” Alex harshly spoke.

  “Sorry about that. I had a little too much to drink that night. But I would never forget a hot girly like you and I never forget a face.” He smiled. “Are you still stripping?”

  “No. I gave that up last year.”


  Alex’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.

  “How do you know Alex here?” he asked.

  “I’m his houseguest.”

  “Lucky man!” The guy patted him on the shoulder. “Anyway, our meeting is over, so the two of you can sit down and eat lunch. “I’ll be in touch, Alex.”

  I watched as Alex took in a sharp inhalation. “We’ll talk soon.”

  As soon as his office door shut, Alex glared at me. “A stripper? Are you kidding me?”

  I waved my hand in front of my face. “It was a one-time thing and I didn’t get totally naked. I was wearing those nipple covers and I had my thong on. I made a thousand dollars that night.” I smirked.

  He placed his hand on his head as he continued to glare at me. “Why the hell would you strip in Vegas? Or anywhere, for that matter!”

  “A friend of mine was ill that night and if she didn’t get someone to replace her, she was going to get fired. She really needed the job because she had a kid to take care of. And I’ll have you know that it was a very respectable club. Not one of those trashy ones.”

  “Jesus, Emerson. I can’t even believe you right now.”

  I frowned. “Does it bother you or something? Hell, I didn’t even know you.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t have done that. Does Adam know?”

  “No, and he won’t ever find out. Like I said, it was a one-time thing. Now go and eat your lunch.”

  “Are you joining me?” he asked calmly.

  “Not if you keep having that attitude, I’m not. So I think you need to apologize to me.”

  “Apologize? For what? For a business client recognizing the girl I fucked as the stripper he groped in Vegas?”

  “He said you were a lucky man.” I gave a cocky smile.

  He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Sit down and have lunch with me,” he commanded as he walked over to the table.

  I didn’t move and stood there with my arms folded.

  “SIT!” He pointed to the chair across from him.

  ****

  Alex

  As I sat and stared at Emerson from across the table, I couldn’t get over the fact that she had stripped in a club full of dirty men who only had one thing on their minds. She could have put her life at risk doing that and I was angry. Why the hell was I angry? I didn’t know. All I knew was that it pissed me off.