Boyfriend for Hire Read online

  "Why not? Oh, dear. Never mind. We'll just pick up some things for you on the way. It won't be much of a problem."

  Chapter Four

  "Oh! This must be your boyfriend we have waited so long to meet!” Sybil didn't even greet her daughter, but instead made a beeline for Bradley, grabbing him to her in a bear hug and kissing him warmly on both cheeks.

  "He's not really my boyfriend, but knock yourself out.” Angelica muttered under her breath, locking her arms over her chest. Her mother always made a scene, always hit on any young man brought into her house. It was no secret she had multiple affairs.

  She felt Bradley jump and saw her mother's hand in the vicinity of his right butt cheek.

  Angelica pried her mother's hands off of Bradley and began to introduce them. This was why she had been thrilled to be able to shop for new clothes for Bradley. You never could be too well prepared when it came to her mother. Or in Bradley's case, too well covered. She'd gotten several turtle necks and several pairs of baggy pants to prepare him to meet her mother.

  She had also hoped to warn him about her mother and the rest of her eccentric family a little more before her mother did something stupid like hit on him. Yet, what else had Angelica expected to happen that weekend? “Yes, Mother. This is my boyfriend Bradley. Bradley, meet my mother, Sybil Heart."

  Bradley withdrew himself from Sybil, who'd made another grab for him. He wrapped an arm possessively around Angelica's mid-section. “It's a pleasure meeting you, Sybil."

  Sybil smoothed her hands over her breasts, drawing more attention to her low cut shirt and her perky breasts. “Well, come in. Come in.” She motioned inside the house. “I have a bedroom set up for you both upstairs. I hope you don't mind sharing; since we have so many people in from out of town, it's gotten crowded."

  Angelica's cheeks flared crimson, and Bradley answered before she had a chance to recover. “Not at all."

  He would say that. Being roommates was going to make it difficult to avoid his seductive charms. The kiss he'd given her when they were shopping had done things to her, and she wasn't sure she liked it. The man was smooth, and she knew he would be good. Bradley practiced enough with his job that he could play her like a finely tuned instrument. And that was exactly the type of thing Angelica was going to have to avoid—being played. She had to remind herself he was a professional at this game and she wasn't.

  * * * *

  After meeting Sybil, Bradley thought he would be prepared for anything, but Angelica's family was a little unusual. Sybil continuously tried to play footsy with him during dinner, and he spent most of the night evading her seductions. Sybil also wouldn't let his plate go empty throughout dinner. She loaded him up with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and lamb with mint jelly.

  "It's a Christmas tradition to have lamb on Christmas Eve around here. Do you like lamb? You haven't touched much of your meat.” Sybil placed more lamb on his plate.

  Bradley held out his hand to stop her. “Thanks. I am just not that hungry today."

  "Oh, nonsense! A big strong man like you needs plenty of meat."

  "Lamb puts hair on your chest, Son. Eat up.” Angelica's father, Samuel, stuffed another bite of lamb into his mouth.

  "Maybe he doesn't like meat, Mother.” Angelica's younger sister Destiny piped in. “It's okay if you don't eat it. I never eat meat. I'm a vegetarian."

  Bradley's eyes lit up with silent laughter. If they only knew his father had been in the beef industry for years with his cattle ranch in Texas. He didn't mind meat at all. He just hadn't been raised on lamb. Besides, escaping Sybil's roving hands had not been easy tonight.

  Bradley felt a woman's leg explore his own, adventuring up a little too far for his comfort. He looked hopefully to Angelica, and she was lost in conversation with her sister. No, it hadn't been her. He looked over to her mother, who cast him a sly glance before continuing the conversation with her husband, Samuel.

  His heart beat sped up as the rogue foot explored further up his calf, caressing his leg through his pants and traveling higher and higher. Gulp. What was she thinking to be doing this in front of her husband? The woman had no shame.

  Bradley hastily escaped, jumping to his feet and to Angelica's side. He gave her a peck on the cheek. “You know, Honey, there is something I've wanted to do all night."

  "Huh? What?” Angelica looked surprised.

  "I have wanted to get you under that mistletoe."

  He was rewarded by a crimson tint to her cheeks. She could sidestep him all she wanted, but she couldn't hide the fact that he heated up her senses. She was looking forward to being kissed by him, even if she wouldn't admit it. “Sit back down, Bradley. Dinner isn't over yet."

  "I'm saving room for dessert.” He spoke in a throaty purr.

  "Oh, yeah! I want to see you kiss!” Destiny squealed.

  "Destiny! He doesn't need any encouragement."

  "But you do. Go kiss him, Angelica.” Samuel urged.

  Bradley hadn't thought the entire family would gang up on her, but if it would shut them up, she would probably kiss him. She seemed unable to endure too much embarrassment at their hands. With a loud sigh, she gave up fighting. She let Bradley lead her to the mistletoe.

  He enfolded her body in his strong arms, and she leaned into his touch, obviously enjoying the way he held her. Her head tipped back, anticipating his kiss. His lips touched hers, exploring gently but masterfully. Every kiss should be this way.

  His tongue probed at the entrance to her mouth, willing her to open for him, and she did so willingly. She let his tongue whip across her teeth, teasing her tongue in turn. He spent long moments licking and sucking, thrusting and retreating, playing a game with her that brought a desire to mate and to do more than kiss. She leaned against him for support as her limbs went limp.

  Chapter Five

  Bradley collapsed on the bed, letting out his breath in a whoosh. If one day with her family was this hard on him, he wondered what it was like on Angelica. He looked at her curiously as she shut the door, and he saw how tired she was. She leaned back against the door and closed her eyes.

  "I am soooooooo sorry."

  "For what?"

  "For my family. I should have warned you.” Her eyes were still shut as if she didn't want to face him.

  Bradley began to laugh. “Honey, I'm not sure I would have been prepared for your family even if you had warned me."

  Angelica winced. “My mom didn't hit on you, did she? I mean, come onto you physically?"

  "All night long.” He laughed again, remembering the way he'd had to fight off Sybil's roving hands. How she had managed to keep her actions secret from her husband, he would never know; and, he wasn't about to ask.

  "Oh, God!” Angelica put her hands on her face in despair.

  "Please! We all have a few black sheep in our family. Yours aren't that bad. They are certainly nothing to be ashamed of.” Bradley thought of his own black sheep. Dustin was probably earning his keep somewhere in Europe, in bed with a beautiful but older woman who enjoyed the attentions of a younger man.

  "Oh, yeah? How bad is your family?"

  His brother was the worst secret hiding in the closet, but he couldn't tell her about him, since he was supposed to be living his brother's life right now. “Well, I have to admit they aren't too bad. I guess there really isn't much to hide."

  "You must be the black sheep."

  "I guess I am.” He smirked. He had never been considered the bad boy before, and in the middle of an election year, he wasn't allowed to get his name dirty without grave consequences. In fact, this whole weekend was incredibly risky. He wasn't sure why he stayed after the first 90 seconds, but when she looked at him that way, he knew he wanted to stay with her even longer.

  Bradley would stay as long as she let him. He was afraid how she might react once she found out who he really was. Yet, there was a part of him that wanted to do something reckless for once. “Do you want to see how black?"

&n
bsp; That made her laugh. He liked to see her spirits lift. Her eyes sparkled with a new life and energy not there before. Angelica's smile could brighten the stormiest of days, if she would send one his way.

  She chuckled softly, as if she knew he was inviting her to come join him on the bed. He rested his head on his arms behind him, and tried to be oblivious to his striking a pose far too sexy to ignore. She licked her lips as she watched him remove his shirt for her, revealing his golden skin and a spattering of masculine fur on his chest. “I'm not sure I should."

  "You did pay for me. You might as well enjoy me."

  Technically she had not paid for him yet, but neither of them felt like arguing right then. “I guess I did, didn't I?” She circled the room, coming closer before sitting next to him on the bed. “I might as well get my money's worth."

  "I'll be sure to give you what you paid for."

  He pulled her into his arms for the second mind blowing kiss of the day, attempting to clear her head of everything but him.

  "I was beginning to wonder if you would be worth it. $10,000 is a lot of money."

  "Oh, I am worth it, Baby. I am worth every penny."

  "I'm sure you are.” Angelica smiled wide.

  Chapter Six

  Angelica didn't want to ask how many other women there were in his life. She didn't want to think about any of the things she would normally ask a date before sleeping with him. She just wanted to lose herself in him at that moment, to forget her family and everyone else around them. She just wanted to feel the contact of Bradley's skin against hers, as they loved each other's bodies.

  The fact that she had felt a sizzling passion in him earlier made her expect to fall into his arms now in a frenzy of sexual need, and the last thing she expected him to be was so sensual. Slowly, he removed her shirt, pulling it over her head as if she was a glass doll and she might break in his arms. He made love to her with his eyes, warming her flesh before he even touched it.

  He shifted her to rest on his lap. “Comfy?” he asked, making her stomach come alive with butterflies. He ran his fingers through her hair, but it was how he looked at her that melted her heart. It was like he cared for her, like their time together meant something more than a tussle under the sheets. Like it was more than the way he earned his money.

  It made her feel special.

  He tipped her head to his, and met her lips. A feather light touch, her lips were soft and pliant beneath his. Her hands traveled upwards, linking around the back of his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss while caressing his scalp lightly.

  His hands were on her breasts and his fingers worked below the line of her plain white bra. The skin-to-skin contact caused her breath to catch in her chest. Her nipples puckered, and he seemed amused enough to play with one of her pearled tips before removing her bra and freeing her breasts.

  "Beautiful."

  "You certainly make me feel that way."

  "You are beautiful and you should never doubt it, Angelica.” His mouth replaced his hands, as he first kissed her breasts and then lightly sucked at one, circling the nipple with his tongue. She groaned, feeling a tendril of desire tighten in her abdomen working its way down her body to warm the spot between her thighs.

  Bradley turned her over to land on her back, the bed giving slightly under her weight.

  "You don't just make me feel beautiful. You make me feel sexy."

  "Good. Then I'm doing my job.” He rolled on top of her, nuzzling her neck, then dripped kisses lovingly across her chest. He unbuttoned her pants, and worked them and the underwear beneath down over her hips. She held her legs together tightly, hiding herself from him.

  * * * *

  This was an important point in their relationship. “I will never hurt you.” He winced at his remark. If she knew how he had lied to her so far—how their whole relationship was built on a lie—she would never trust him. But he desperately wanted her to. He caressed her body, helping her to relax, and eased her legs apart with his knee. “Trust me."

  "I trust you."

  He kissed her again, for trusting him, because from what little he knew of her strength and tenacious spirit, Angelica Heart didn't trust many people.

  Her mouth parted, and her eyes closed in ecstasy.

  Regretfully, he withdrew from her. His skin felt cold when he was not next to her. Hurriedly he shed the rest of his clothing, and retrieved a small silver package from their luggage.

  She made a sound of pleasure as she watched him come back to her, fully aroused and ready. He lowered himself onto her, his body covering hers. His blood raged hot at the thought of her wrapping those long sexy legs around his body. He handed her the condom, and she tore it open with her teeth before pulling it down, over his engorged penis.

  His hand went between her legs, massaging her slit, and teasing the fire that burned there. She lifted her hips in invitation and he rewarded her by pressing his sex at her silky entrance. She held onto his hips, and pulled him down into her. He filled her completely, the tip of him pressing against the innermost part of her.

  He withdrew, not all the way, and then pushed back into her, beginning a slow and steady rhythm. In and out of her he pumped, and she responded with her own rhythmic movements.

  A crescendo of unrestrained power rose in his blood as his movements grew more frenzied, more impassioned. He wanted to claim her, leave her imprinted with a part of him. He rocked atop her, willing her to let go like she never had.

  She let out a muffled sigh of pure pleasure. Her thighs tightened, pulling against his, and her innermost muscles spasmed around him, sending him over the edge. He gave a final thrust into her, releasing his seed. With his heart still racing, his body collapsed on hers. They lay there together for a few minutes, him still inside her, lingering in the aftermath of their shared pleasure.

  "Now I know why you get paid for that."

  He laughed. If only she knew the truth. Would she understand why he had lied to her? Would she still be staring up at him with those big eyes full of trust? “With a woman like you, I would pay for that."

  Chapter Seven

  Bradley sat back on the couch with his glass of red wine, relaxing and watching the family tear open the Christmas presents with relish. Destiny had already finished with her presents, and they lay amid all the wrapping paper. She abandoned most of the clothes and was already playing with her Mp3 player. Most of the presents were open and everyone was looking over the stash of new gifts.

  Bradley had not thought about what to get her. As her boyfriend, he should have had a present to give Angelica on Christmas morning. He cursed himself for not thinking of that while they were at the mall picking out clothes for him, but he really had not planned on staying. He never thought he would actually spend Christmas with her or her family.

  The longer the charade went on, the more he began to like her; and the more he liked her, the more he realized he didn't want to hurt her. He knew if she ever found out how he had lied to her, she would be hurt.

  Lost in his reverie, he felt a small object land in his lap. He blinked in surprise at the small black box, topped with a white bow. Angelica smiled down at him before joining him on the couch.

  Her thigh grazed his. “Thank you. You didn't have to do that."

  "No, Honey, it's my pleasure. Open it."

  "Okay.” He opened the box and brought out the small metal watch. It was an Osaki, with diamonds on the face. He took it out and put it on. “Wow. Thank you. It's beautiful."

  Sybil interrupted. “That is lovely, Dear, and it looks quite expensive. Did you get something for Angelica?"

  "Yes, Mother. He already gave me his gift."

  "And?"

  Bradley felt he could strangle the interfering woman at that point, but he smiled instead. “Oh, you didn't hear? I'm taking Angelica to see Graceland."

  Angelica turned to him and smiled. Her eyes lit up with a mischievous light. He took the opportunity to kiss her, brushing his lips briefly against
hers. He liked playing a couple with her. They fit well together. Bradley made a private vow to really take her to Graceland, if she would let him after this was all over. That is, if she ever trusted him again. “Thank you for the watch, Honey."

  "And it's waterproof. Do you want to join me in the pool?” Her voice was seductive.

  The breath caught in his throat at the image of her in a bikini. He simply nodded his acquiescence, not trusting his voice.

  * * * *

  Bradley looked at the cell phone. This wasn't a call he could avoid, so he flipped open the cell phone, and stopped the ringing instantaneously. Angelica was sunning herself on a lawn chair, and the blue waters, shimmering brightly, refracted the sunlight. But his eyes were drawn from the sparkling water, back to her. She dressed conservatively in a black one-piece swimsuit that clung to her like a second skin. Her eyes were closed, as if she was sleeping. Her wet hair was slicked back over her head. Her skin sparkled with a sheen of water, one leg slightly raised at the knee. He would have loved to lick her skin clean.

  "Hello, Dad.” Angelica waved to him as he answered the phone, and then went back to her pose, closing her eyes to the noonday sun.

  "Where the hell are you? Your mother's been worried sick."

  "Sorry,” he whispered. “Something came up."

  "And what could be more important than spending Christmas with your family?"

  "Dad, I didn't mean for this to happen and I really can't talk to you about all the details. I'm with Angelica Heart right now."

  Silence filled the line as his father registered the information.

  "The Angela Heart? Is she interviewing you? Fantastic, Son. This can only help your campaign."

  "Help. Yes.” Bradley thought about how much it could hurt if she found out exactly who he was before he had told her the entire truth. He thought about telling her at that moment. Only, he didn't want to ruin what they had together. In his line of work, everyone filtered what he or she said to him and carefully judged how they acted. This odd relationship with Angelica was completely based on lies, yet he loved how much she trusted him already and how she was utterly at ease with him.