Read Online The Billionaire's Terms: Prison Or Passion by Elizabeth Lennox - Free Book Online Page A

said, his knuckles coming up to her chin, rubbing gently. “I was wondering.”
    After all her soul searching of the afternoon, she wasn’t going to take this kind of teasing tonight. Her eyes flashed fire as she said, “The lady has claws too,” she said, pulling her chin away and stepping backwards. “Like I said, if you don’t like it…” she left the suggestion dangling.
“Who said I didn’t like it?” he asked, his eyes moving down her slender figure that was lush in all the right places. “I think it looks beautiful on you.”
     
She was caught off guard by the compliment and confused by his gentle tone. “Th…thank you,” she said, her eyes losing some of the anger almost instantly.
    “You’re welcome. But I’m guessing you are telling me that you need more clothes,” he said and turned away from her. “I told you I’d be generous. All you had to do was tell me,” he called back to her a moment before he disappeared into his bedroom.
Alicia just stood there staring at the empty doorway. “You are the most confusing man,” she said to herself.
    Fifteen minutes later, Adam walked back out looking devastatingly handsome, freshly showered and shaved wearing a tailored tuxedo. “Ready?” he asked and offered his arm.
“Where are we going?” she asked, taking his arm and smiling tentatively at him.
     
“Dinner with a business acquaintance,” was all he would say to her.
    Bill was at the front door waiting for them with the limousine door open. Within moments the car was smoothly carrying them through the heavy evening rush hour traffic with miraculous ease. They arrived at the restaurant only a few minutes later and were immediately shown to their party.
    Adam introduced her to the people that were already gathered at the large table. They were foreign business people with their significant others and wives. Alicia sat next to Adam who basically ignored her throughout the entire meal. But she didn’t mind. He was listening intently to some sort of business arrangement with the men next to and across from her and she was perfectly content to listen to the women next to her discuss their children. The conversation was lively and humorous as the women told funny stories of their children’s antics.
    When dessert arrived, the ladies excused themselves and made their way to the bathroom. Adam had already gone to another room, apparently to discuss a business issue so Alicia was left at the table for several minutes with no one to talk to. She felt incredibly alone all of a sudden and very self-conscious. She fiddled with the dessert of chocolate mouse, not really hungry at all but needing something to do with her hands and her eyes.
“Good evening,” a male voice said next to her.
    Alicia looked up quickly and smiled at one of the husbands of the women who had just left. “Good evening. Richard, correct?” she asked, relieved to not be all alone again. The man had kind eyes, she thought.
“You look very lonely, sitting here by yourself. Where did everyone go?”
     
“Your wife and Doris are in the bathroom. They should be back any moment now.”
    “That’s good,” he said. “Glad to know she hasn’t deserted me. I’d hate to have to get the kids dressed in the morning. Little hellions, you know,” he grimaced, taking a sip of wine.
Alicia laughed since his wife had just been talking about the morning routine in their house. “Yes, I’d heard that it can be a little chaotic.”
    Richard laughed harshly. “Chaotic is a nice word for what goes on. What about you?” he asked, placing his wine glass down on the table and turning to face her. “What’s your story?’
Alicia was instantly wary. How did one explain that she was the unpaid mistress to a man who thinks she is a criminal? “Oh, you know, just the usual.”
     
Richard smiled. “I can’t imagine anything you do being usual. What line of work are you in?” he asked.
    “I am an accountant,” she said, without lying. At