Her Billionaire Landlord Read online

  “That depends.” Vaughn’s voice comes from right behind me. His breath is warm against the overly-sensitive skin of my neck. It’s enough to send goosebumps fluttering across my skin in waves. In the reflection of the polished glass, I can see him behind me, tall and blonde and perfectly sculpted. “There are any given number of employees and housekeeping staff in the building at any given time. But,”

  He waits for me to turn around and face him again. I do, and his gorgeous frame is even more imposing up close. Even after all the time we spent together in my apartment earlier, the beauty and power of the man haven’t faded. Something about Vaughn Tremblay makes me want to curl up against his chest like a kitten and take a nap.

  Well. Maybe not just sleep, if I’m being honest…

  Unlike most of my friends, I’ve never been one to spend hours fantasizing about men in general or sex in particular. Making ends meet and getting back into school always occupied way too much of my time to spend daydreaming about the boys around me.

  Meeting Vaughn has changed all of that in only a matter of hours. Apparently, facing my mortality is enough to make me reevaluate all the important decisions in my life in rapid succession. High on that list? Losing my virginity.

  And it seems my body has already picked out the only qualified candidate for the job.

  “But,” he goes on now that I’m meeting his eyes again. “I suspect that’s not what you meant at all. I’m not blind to the disparities, Vivi. There’s an inherent unfairness to the struggles you’ve faced compared to my own life. I can’t change the world alone, but I’m trying to change things, even just a little.”

  I swallow hard, letting his words digest.

  So much of my life has felt like running an obstacle course with extra weights taped to my ankles. Vaughn is a total stranger But hearing him simply acknowledge the fact that he got a head start on it all feels so validating. It’s almost hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that he’s the same gorgeous stranger that just finished saving my life and giving me a safe place to spend the night.

  We haven’t spent much time together, but Vaughn has already gone out of his way to make me feel safe and comfortable. The fact that he also talks to me like an equal only makes this unnatural attraction I feel for him even more intense.

  “So, are you going to give me a tour, or what?” I grin up at Vaughn. “I don’t want to wander around looking for a glass of water in the middle of the night and get lost. They might never find my remains.”

  He makes a big show of extending an arm out to me.

  “Would you like to start with the pool deck, the movie theater, or the arcade?”

  I have no idea if he’s joking.

  It turns out he’s not.

  It’s like getting a guided tour through a life-sized Barbie Dream House, only decorated in more muted tones. By the time we’re rummaging through his massive stainless steel fridge, hours later, there’s a puddle of pool water spreading around us. A trail of wet, chlorinated footprints leads in wild abandon throughout the house.

  This started as the worst day of my life.

  Now, I’m drinking the most expensive champagne I could ever hope to mispronounce on Vaughn Tremblay’s kitchen floor. Looking up into his beautiful face as he takes a long draw from the lip of the dark green bottle, I can already tell this roller coaster is only just now starting to crest.

  Chapter 5

  Vaughn

  Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over. Until the ceiling can’t hold us. — Macklemore, ‘Can’t Hold Us’

  If you’d asked me twenty-four hours ago where I would be today, I could never have conjured up this particular venue. Even now that I’ve met her and know for certain that there’s nobody but this steely redhead who I want to spend the rest of my life with, she continues to surprise me.

  I have no doubt it will continue to be this way forever.

  “Come on, Vaughn. Don’t tell me you’ve never fed ducks before.” Vivi laughs, tugging on my hand as she leads me down to the pond.

  “I have to admit I am completely deficient in any duck-related activities. My grandfather used to hunt them —”

  Vivi turns to look at me with abject horror etched onto her face, but I chuckle and wave her off.

  “Something I never had a taste for. Sport hunting doesn't seem very sporting, you know?”

  She nods, slowing down as we approach the bank. The park-like setting that surrounds my place has always been a source of joy for me. A peaceful retreat for quick afternoon mediation or the occasional power walk after dinner.

  Like my swimming pool in the moonlight and the abandon with which she threw herself into the king-sized bed in the guest suite, Vivi makes me look at everything with new eyes. The gardens and ponds behind the building are no exception. There are, in fact, a plethora of birds. Not just ducks but swans, geese, and other, bigger waterfowl I don’t recognize.

  “Well, it’s pretty simple.” She sits down on the grass near the edge of the water.

  I watch the simple, easy grace with which she moves. Vivi tears a hunk of the fresh loaf of bread we picked up before tossing it into the water. Even after such a short amount of time with her, I’m already learning to pick up on the million different ways she has of smiling. Most of them are with her eyes, just a hint of promise behind the yellow and green of them.

  Birds glide seamlessly across the pond, barely making a ripple as they zero in on the free carbs Vivi offers.

  “That’s it?” I ask, amused. She looks like a curvy wood nymph, her pale skirt spread out around her on the checkered picnic blanket.

  Vivi tilts her head back, looking up at me. It’s endearingly cute.

  “It’s peaceful. Relaxing. Come on, sit. Don’t you ever just take half an hour to relax, Tremblay?”

  “In a word? No.” As odd as it feels to confess the words out loud, I’m glad I do. Talking to Vivienne feels good. “Most of the time I’m trying to squeeze five more minutes into a day, not kill thirty on a leisurely afternoon feeding ducks.”

  Despite my words, I step closer to the edge of the blanket, looking out over the edge of the water.

  “Which is exactly the problem. You’re too high strung.” Vivi pats the blanket beside her. “Come on, kick your shoes off.”

  “The ducks might run off with them.” I cock a teasing eyebrow at her

  “So what?” Vivi laughs at that, throwing another handful of crumbs out over the water.

  “They’re handcrafted Italian leather, from a cobbler who only makes two pairs a year.” Despite my protestations, I’m already shrugging out of my jacket. I don’t think I am capable of saying no to Vivi, even if I tried— and I don’t want to try.

  “See, That’s a man who knows how to relax.” She gives me another smile. “Two pairs of shoes a year. You know how much free time he’s got on his hands to do whatever he wants? You should follow the shoe guy’s example.”

  I scowl at that, throwing my hands up in the air at the absurdity of it all. Then I take my shoes off. Slowly, carefully; being certain that they’re resting in a very safe and dry spot five feet farther up the bank. But hearing the musical sound of Vivi’s laughter only makes it all more fun.

  “Dip your toes in the water with me.”

  I give Vivi a blank look. Impromptu midnight swimming in my rooftop pool is one thing. But this?

  “It’s pond water,” I remind her. “There are actual animals swimming around crapping in it.” It seems a very reasonable counterpoint in my own mind.

  “It’s part of the experience, Vaughn.” She kicks her own shoes off, wiggling her toes.

  I’ve never been someone who thought feet were attractive, but hers are somehow. Freed from her simple ballet flats, the French tip polish of her home pedicure is endearing. Sweet.

  Sexy.

  It’s part of her overall draw. She’s like a magnet, an irresistible force that hauls me deeper into love with her with every passing second.

&nbs
p; “Alright.” I toe the water briefly. It’s warm from the sun, but not unpleasant.

  “See?” Vivi wraps her arm loosely around mine as we sit in the warm sunshine, enjoying the stillness. “Nothing attacked you and they didn’t melt off.”

  I love it when she gets that self-assured tone to her voice. She’ll need it to navigate my world in the coming years. It makes me happy to think of watching Vivi acclimate herself to life at my side. We bring a balance to each other’s worlds, and I’m willing to put in as much work as it takes to make her see it.

  “Great,” I nudge her shoulder with a teasing smile. “Now that we’ve relaxed, can we go? I have some important stuff to run by you.”

  “It’s for your own good, Vaughn,” Vivi sighs dramatically, scooching closer to me.

  She leans her head on my shoulder, and all of my snappy comebacks evaporate on the spot. I could die on the spot and be a happy man, sitting here with Vivi’s body pressed up against me. It feels natural to drop a kiss on the top of her head.

  “You’re right,” I murmur against the softness of her rich auburn locks. “Duck watching is a moral imperative.”

  She’s quiet for a long moment. The electricity between us is a palpable thing. It’s tangible on the breeze flittering in off the water, humming along our skin like a current.

  Vivienne turns her head up towards mine. It’s as natural as breathing, as perfect as the sun and the horizon coming together. I find her lips with my own, mold my mouth against hers in a kiss that I know I’ve been waiting my entire life for.

  Vivi kisses like she lives— unrestrained, with everything she has. Hesitant and yielding, there’s an offering in the way she parts her lips for me. Her breath caresses my lower lip, a gentle quiver that sends bolts of desire rocketing straight through me and into my aching cock.

  I want her. I’ve wanted her my entire life; long before I saved her in a dimly lit hallway a day ago.

  Her body feels perfect, pressed eagerly against mine. I lean us back against the softness of the picnic blanket, feeling the gassy ground yield beneath us as I do. Vivi’s legs shift in her pale pink skirt, her arms coming up to pull my mouth more firmly down on her own. It’s unlike any kiss I’ve ever shared with a woman— because it’s the last first kiss for either of us.

  When Vivi sits up, her pouty lips are swollen, her jade eyes heavy-lidded with desire. I feel the dark satisfaction of knowing my hands are responsible for the tousled mess of her strawberry locks. I want to tear off her clothes and bury myself inside her right here, at the edge of the pond.

  The sudden need to claim her as mine is almost overwhelming.

  “Vaughn—” Vivienne’s voice is heavy, hot with the effects of our breathless kiss.

  “I want you to stay, Vivi.” I stand up and pull her to her feet. “I want you to stay with me. I know it’s soon. But I know you feel it, too. This is where you belong.”

  Nothing can prepare me for what she says next.

  “I’m a virgin.” Vivi’s eyes are dazzling, sparks of gold, and flashes of yellow dancing behind her green gaze.

  My heart slams in my chest.

  “I want to stay. I want to be with you— I feel the connection between us as much as you do. But I want you to go into this with your eyes wide open. I don’t come from the same world you do, Vaughn.”

  She makes me ache. I want her more now than ever. I pull her in close, holding her tight for a moment before letting her go.

  “Let’s go home, Vivi,” I tell her for the second time.

  Chapter 6

  Vivienne

  So baby pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover that I know you can’t afford. Bite that tattoo on your shoulder. — The Chainsmokers, ‘Closer’

  The limo ride back to Vaughn’s penthouse is the longest ride of my life.

  Vaughn is quiet. Far quieter than I’ve ever seen him be. He’s so big, so full of life, such an extrovert.

  Seeing him quiet is almost scarier than encountering a mugger in my old hallway. At least that hadn’t seemed out of place.

  When did I start thinking of it as my old place?

  I’ve only been with Vaughn for a day and a half, but I can’t ever imagine my life without him again. It already feels like my life is divided between life before Vaughn and after him. I know he’s older. More, the differences between us stretch out like a canyon in my mind. He comes from a world of excess. A life where he can buy buildings and change people's lives. I come from a very different reality.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have pointed it all out. Maybe I should have just lived the dream for another day, or maybe a week— however long it is that Vaughn planned on keeping me around. But I don’t think I can do that. I already know that I can only stay with him if it’s forever. I needed him to know just what was on the line: my heart.

  The silence seems like a gulf between us, stretching wider with every red light want to find the perfect words, but I’m terrified of putting my foot in my mouth. Old familiar doubts begin to creep up in my mind.

  Acid churns in my stomach. What am I doing? I’m not beautiful or worldly enough for Vaughn’s world. I have no experience. What did I even think would happen when I didn’t immediately jump into his arms?

  The thought makes me ache, my eyes involuntarily filling with tears.

  I was stupid to ever think otherwise. Stupid to let my guard down for even a second with this powerful man. The limo cruises to a stop in front of the building, and my heart is slamming in my chest. I wonder where Vaughn’s thoughts are as he offers me his arm.

  He hasn’t stopped looking at me, but it’s a different sort of hunger than the intense gaze he had me fixed with back on the picnic blanket. This is more, and I can’t read it. My mind is working double time trying to overthink things. A ball of sand is threatening to build in the back of my throat.

  “Vivi, we need to talk.” Vaughn breaks the silence as we head out of the car and into the building. His arm is easy and sure on mine, but I can’t help the icy ball of fear crystallizing in my stomach.

  ‘I understand,” I nod. “I’ll be gone first thing. Unless you’d rather I just leave now. I can probably grab an Uber back to— “ I try to keep my voice calm, but raw emotion claws at my throat. I wasn’t prepared for how much this would hurt. Up until now, it’s been so easy to keep my heart locked away from wounded feelings.

  Vaughn stops walking. I feel him freeze in place before he whirls around to look at me. His eyes are piercing, pinning me in place. There are a dozen questions behind them.

  “What? God no, Vivi” His voice is shocked and confused in equal measure. “Why? Do you want to leave?”

  Vaughn’s eyes search my face as he seeks out answers of his own.

  “No, I just thought…” I trail off. My self-imposed destructive thoughts are completely derailed. Here I’d gone and completely convinced myself that he was done with me, terribly disappointed in my awkward confession mid-duck date.

  Instead, he’s looking at me like I’ve lost my mind by telling him that I’ll get out of his hair.

  “You thought what?” Vaughn asks. There’s a note of sternness in his voice, steel beneath the smooth silk. It’s the first time I’ve heard him be anything close to upset. Even facing a knife-wielding psycho, he was calm, cool, and collected.

  To hear him sound almost… desperate over the thought of losing me? It doesn’t make sense. Emotion squeezes my heart, threatens to choke me.

  “It’s just, after what we talked about at the lake. You were quiet all the way back home.” I bite the tip of my tongue as a rush of heat creeps up my cheeks. “Sorry, I mean, back here. It’s not my home —”

  “It is your home, Vivi.” Vaughn wraps his big hands around my shoulders, pulling me in close. His cologne is all citrus and warm spice. I can still smell the sunshine on his Armani shirt, and I want him to kiss me again so badly it hurts. “I’m sorry. I was quiet because I was thinking about the best way to handle all this. It’s a surprise, to
be sure, but a welcome one.”

  I shake my head, trying to clear it.

  “You mean you aren’t angry, or disappointed?” When Vaughn pulls me close and lets me rest my forehead on his strong chest, I almost break down. “Someone like you, I mean, you deserve the best. The best of everything. I have no idea what I’m doing, Vaughn. None. No one in high school ever got to first base with me.” I force myself to look up into his face.

  Vaughn flashes me that heart-melting smile, and suddenly the ice in my veins is gone.

  “Vivi, babe, I could never be disappointed in you. Especially about something like this. You might not have much practice yet, but I already know you’re a fast learner. I’m glad, honored I’ll be the man that gets to introduce you into the world of sex.”

  Vaughn leans in close. Where five minutes ago the gap between us felt like the grand canyon, now it’s non-existent. Vaughn is pressed up against me, the warmth of his body reassuring, comforting, and arousing. Even through his thousand-dollar suit, I can feel the strength of his muscular frame.

  “Oh,” I answer, at a complete loss for words.

  “Not that I’m rushing you. I don’t want you to feel like there’s any pressure. Just, you know, when it happens. I’m so glad it’ll be me.”

  Vaughn brushes his hand against my cheek, tracing the line of my jaw. He’s so close that I can smell him clearly: expensive clothes, money, and that scent that is uniquely Vaughn. Like a warm drink on a cold night, with a bit of alcohol burning on my tongue.

  I remember the way his mouth felt on mine. The rush of heat that moved through me to settle slick and wet between my thighs.

  “No, I’m ready. I want this. I really, really want this, Vaughn.”

  His lips brush mine softly, tentatively.