Page 66 of The Billionaire's Ride

I step closer and trickle my fingertips down his soft cotton tee between his pecs. “I thought you liked them better on the floor.”

“You know me well,” he says, placing a gentle hand on my cheek. “Thank you. I have something for you too. But you have to come with me.” He takes my hand, leading me down the hallway,and I’m positive that he’s taking me to his bed. Why didn’t I get here earlier? Then, we pass his bedroom door and keep moving. Hmm, where is he taking me?

We stop in front of a door at the end of the hallway. A room I’ve never seen before. “Are you ready?” he asks and cracks the door open. The room is pitch black until he flips a switch. A dim red light glows, somewhat revealing the room.

I raise my eyebrow. “Is this your secret sex room?”

Drew spits out a laugh. “What? No. This is my dark room for developing photographs.” That’s when I notice equipment on the counters and photos hanging in the center.

“Oh,” I say with a giggle.

“You thought I had one of those sex dungeons or something?”

I shrug. “Yeah, for a second, I thought you might have a fetish.”

Drew's lips graze my ear lobe, and he whispers, “Baby, the only fetish I have is with your gorgeous body.” He runs his hand down my backside like it’s his. And I wish I could give it to him. Not just my body but all of me.

He takes one of the photographs down, careful not to leave prints on the new development. “This is for you.” It looks like a photograph of the tree in Hyde Park—our tree. “I still need to get it framed, but do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful. I love it.” I kiss him, mustering every ounce of gratitude I can for the gift. For all the gifts. We stay there for a few moments, tangling our fingers in each other’s hair and kissing softly.

I know this is it. My friends are waiting for me in the car. My flight back to California will take off soon. But at this moment, I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to give him up.

I remind myself that it’s just a fling and that I’ll eventually find a man who makes me feelthisgood and doesn’t live acrossthe globe. Except I don’t believe it. Maybe I’m just consumed by the moment. High from the thrill.

He must be thinking the same thing, romanticizing our time together a little more than he should because he asks, “You sure you have to leave tonight?”

I nod, looking down at our intertwined hands. “So what happens now?” I definitely don’t know how to navigate any of this.

“I don’t know. You go home and get back to your normal life. In a few days, I’ll send this photograph in the mail. You’ll find a place for it, and when you look at it, you’ll remember that little moment in time when you broke all the rules with a bloke on a motorbike.” Drew definitely inspires me to break the rules. He inspires me in all kinds of ways. “And the next time you’re in London, we can go for another ride.”

“I’d love that.”

“You’re a good girl, Kate. I’m going to miss you,” he says, looking into my eyes. I reach for his face, feeling his stubble beneath my fingers and breathing in his gorgeous scent. My heart flutters.

“If you do, then come to Los Angeles and give me a call.” I’m not entirely sure if we’re exchanging actual invitations or just niceties for the moment. This thing I have with him can’t possibly go anywhere, but I’d like to imagine it can.

“I will,” he says.

I glance at my watch. “It’s time for me to go.”

“Okay.” Drew sweeps my hair away from my face and kisses me hard like it’s the last time our lips will meet. I feel a rush rippling through my entire being. I look into his eyes again. Will I ever see him again? Is there another ride waiting for us?

Chapter Thirty-Two

DREW

Black and white.Those are the colors of my life. The colors I always wear. The hue of the photographs on my walls. I walk throughout my entire penthouse, and there’s no color. No color without Kate.

She’s red for sure, but she’s all the other colors too. Colors I’ve never seen before. Everything with her is brighter. More vibrant. It’s been three days since she left. And now it’s only black and white again.

I haven’t heard from her either. Not a single text. I keep thinking she walked into her house, back into her normal life, and forgot all about me. Why can’t I forget about her? I haven’t even changed the sheets since the last time she was in my bed. I tried to go out with my lads tonight and find someone new, but I wasn’t interested. And there were beautiful women around. Loads of them.

Pathetic, right? Me being all lovesick over a woman. This doesn’t happen to me. Ever. I try to stop thinking about her, but everything reminds me of her. My bed, my music—even the songs we didn’t listen to together. And Black Jack too. I can’t go anywhere or do anything without thinking Kate. Kate. Kate. It’s like I’m broken.

I had the tree photograph framed and sent it to her house. She should get it any time now. I’ve been staring at her address. I know she’s there. There’s this ache in my body. My damn soul. I’ve never missed anyone this much. Or maybe she’s the only drug that ever got me hooked.

I’m an addict, and I need my fix. I need to hear her voice. I pick up my phone to call, then a little voice in my head says,stop being such a wanker and get over the girl!

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