Sweet Torture: An Alpha Billionaire Romance Read online

  Sweet Torture

  Sweet Torture

  A Short Alpha Billionaire Romance

  Anne R. Boyden

  Copyright © 2019 by Anne R. Boyden

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, things, living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

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  Contents

  Sweet Torture

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue

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  Also by Anne R. Boyden

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

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  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Elisabeth

  Sliding my white apron up my waist and tying it around, I let out a heavy sigh. This is not good. I just got a call from my son's kindergarten administration and they told me that I've missed the deadline to pay for the next semester. They also told me that they can't extend it any more, no matter how much I beg. And trust me, I did. Being a single mom at my age, without any kind of support, moral or financial, is damn hard.

  I'm in the middle of my shift at the upscale restaurant downtown where I've worked for more than a year and a half now, and I desperately need the money. The thing is, I've never thought I'd be in this situation at twenty-three.

  Henry, my four-year-old, is the light of my life. He is the best thing that ever happened to me, even if I thought I'd never be able to do this on my own at the beginning. He is smart as a whip, cute as a button and he heals me every day by just existing.

  My dad left my mom when I was four. Apparently, he'd decided that being a parent was too much of a responsibility. My mom died when I was pregnant with Henry. A sudden car crash took her life in a blink of an eye. I couldn't believe she was gone, and I think I'm still in denial some days. She was supportive and always took care of me, especially after what happened. After the father of my child abandoned me as soon as I told him the news.

  Alec was my boyfriend at the time, and he was a sophomore in college. We were dating all through our last years in high school and our freshman year in college. He was my first and only boyfriend, and the day I've finally given myself to him has also been the last time I've ever had sex.

  Funny how life is.

  Alec was always so pushy and confident, and I think that's what got me the most. I was young and naive. But now I realize that I wasn't ready to lose my virginity. I realize now that he pushed me, even though it seemed like it was consensual. I take the blame for that event, even if my conscience screams at me that I shouldn't.

  I should've known better. He didn't rape me, nothing like that. It's just that he made me feel guilty every time I stopped him when things got too heated. Eventually, I was tired of that guilt and decided to just do it. We used a condom, but two and a half months later it turned out that it was faulty. I think it hasn't been a full minute after I told him I was pregnant when he demanded I get an abortion or he'd leave me. Half an hour and one crushed heart later, he was gone without a second glance. This broke my heart in a way I never knew it could be broken.

  I don't blame him, though. If not for him, I wouldn't have Henry in my life. And Henry is the reason I live for, the reason I wake up in the morning. My sweet, caring boy, with unruly chocolate brown hair and hazel eyes, that he got from me. He loves books, especially huge encyclopedias. He always likes to say, "I love you to the moon and back."

  He heard this phrase in some movie and now he says it to me every time, which melts my heart into a puddle. He collects tiny dinosaur toys that I buy him any time I can afford it. He loves riding his kiddie bicycle that I got him last Christmas. He also deserves a mother who can provide a good life for him, and lately, I've been failing to do so.

  Bills have been stacking up and I'm having a hard time keeping up with them. I didn't get the chance to get my college education because of my pregnancy, and getting a nice job that pays good money and has benefits with just a GED is pretty much impossible.

  I was lucky when one of the managers felt sorry for me and took me in. The restaurant I work at as a waitress is located in the middle of the busiest business quarter in Seattle. We have suits coming in all day, especially during lunch, and the evenings are packed with people in their best attires having candlelit dinners.

  I love this place, I love the staff and the team. But I want a better life for us. I had to sell my mom's house in order to pay the hospital bills after her crash. I managed to pay half of them with that money, but there is still an immense sum left that I owe. Henry and I are living in a nice-ish neighborhood, but our apartment is tiny. We have one room that is my bedroom, apart from the kitchen and bathroom. Henry sleeps with me, and up until lately, that wasn't the problem. He is growing up fast, and he's been asking me why he doesn't have his own room as other kids do.

  He's also been asking me why he doesn't have a daddy, like kids in his group, do. This makes me feel like an utter failure, even when I'm trying to do my best every day.

  All of this has been bothering me for months, and I feel like the pressure is getting unbearable. I miss my mom. I miss having someone to care for me. I miss being in love, holding that person's hand and thinking that I have my whole life to figure things out. I haven't been on a date sine Alec left me and truth to be told, I am afraid to feel again. Because if I do, it means I'll make myself vulnerable again. And I can't let that happen.

  I close my eyes for a second and think about all the good things in life. I have to concentrate on all the good things in life because if I don't, the feeling of emptiness will consume me whole.

  Popping my eyes open again, I fix my sleek ponytail and head back to the main floor. I have to be strong, if not for myself, then for my son. The rest I'll figure out later.

  I just hope I don't have to figure things out alone for the rest of my life.

  Chapter 2

  Chase

  "I'm not going to repeat myself. This is my last warning. Either you fix this mess or consider this your two weeks' notice."

  With that, I hang up and lean back in my chair, closing my eyes that are sore from looking through the stacks of papers all day.

  Why can't people just do their damn job? Is it that hard to check the reports twice to make sure there are no mistakes in numbers before submitting them to the client?

  I groan as I glance at the clock, exhaustion taking over my whole body. It's almost nine in the evening and I'm still at the office. As I look at the city at my feet, I think about everything I've achieved and that maybe it's time to slow down.

  This company, this empire, is my baby. I build everything from the ground up without anyone's help. Venture capitalism is at its peak now so I grab every opportunity I think is worth the risk, and so far I've made myself a very, very wealthy man. I can have pretty much anything I want in this life. But even I can admit it's gotten quite fucking old lately. It's like something is missing. I usually don't have the time to contemplate my life choices but I can't help but think what could've happened if I weren't so keen on making a nice
living and working days and nights. I don't regret it, but I also don't have anything worth living for. At thirty-four, I don't have a wife and I don't have kids. My parents are traveling the world and having the time of their lives that they deserve thanks to all the hard work I've put into my company for the last fifteen years.

  But I want what they have. To find that one special person that will turn my life upside down and make me want to be a better man for them. I want my kids running around the house, their laughter echoing from the walls. I want the love of my life sharing these beautiful moments with me.

  All I have now is an empty penthouse at one of the most modern and expensive buildings in our city, fast cars, and cold sheets to greet me when I get home. For most people, it's a dream that came true. It was for me as well, but it got old pretty quickly.

  Now, I need more. I'm fucking greedy, and that's what's gotten me through life this far and made me a great businessman. I always want more and I know how to get it. But this time, I feel like things that really matter don't come easy, and it's not just a business deal that I'm eager to close. It's so much more.

  My cell rings again but I turn it off with one swipe of my finger. It's time to get out of here and get something to eat. I've had meetings all day and haven't eaten anything since lunch.

  Saying goodbye to the security team in the hall on the first floor, I march to my car and rev it up down the street to one of my favorite restaurants in town. They always have a table saved for me so I don't have to worry about it being crowded.

  I give the keys to my sleek SUV to the valet and step into the restaurant's soft beige hall. It's quite an exclusive place, but the cuisine is worth every penny. I wave at the maitre d' and with a curt nod, he signals me to follow him into the dimly lit room at the back. I always ask this room to relax after a long day at work and just enjoy my food in peace, without people chattering away on every front. I have enough of this shit at work.

  I glance at the menu, but I already know what I want. Because as soon as I lift my head up to order, I see my waitress and suddenly, she is exactly what I want. What I've always wanted.

  What I've always craved.

  "H-hello, sir. Are you ready to order?" Her voice is soft and almost too quiet, but it makes my whole body come alive.

  She is a tiny thing, but damn, the girl has some serious curves. Her light caramel skin looks glowing in this lightning, her puffy lips looking edible and her eyes... Her eyes are making me weak. They are the lightest shade of green I've ever seen and there are specs of brown in them. Her chocolate hair is up in a ponytail, a few tendrils escaping and framing her face. I can't help but notice the way her skirt hugs her plush hips and her ample chest that's begging for some attention.

  What I wouldn't do to have her in my arms, to feel her softness, to make her need me, to make her moan for me.

  She's fucking beautiful, but it's the sadness in those gorgeous eyes that makes me hold my horses and rethink the situation. It's like she has the weight of the whole world on her shoulders. She looks young, so what could've made her feel this way?

  "What's your name, sweetheart?" I mutter, still looking straight into her eyes.

  "It's Elisabeth. What can I get you?" Her voice is breathy, and I wonder if I have the same effect on her as she has on me.

  "In a second. Why haven't I seen you before? Are you new here?" I wouldn't miss this beauty.

  She shakes her head, her cheeks getting redder with every passing minute, "No, sir. I've been working here for almost two years now. But I usually take day shifts, because I have to pick up my s—"

  Elisabeth stops abruptly and squeezes her eyes shut, but I urge her to continue, "To pick up your...?"

  "My cat. I have to pick up my cat," she nods and bites her lip. I want to bite it, too. So hard.

  I scrunch my brows in confusion, "Your cat?"

  "Yep, my cat. I have to pick up my cat from the lady who sits him for me," she leans in and whispers, "He doesn't like to stay home alone."

  I nod as it makes sense, but it doesn't. Instead, I ask her, "Would you like to have dinner with me, Elisabeth?"

  She stares at me, dumbfounded, "W-what? I don't even know your name. And I'm working, I can't be having meals with guests."

  I give her my best smile and it seems to be working, judging by the way she starts fidgeting and her face getting even redder. "That's not a problem, sweetheart. My name is Chase. And if you weren't at work, would you have dinner with me?"

  She looks around to see if someone's watching, but we are alone in this room. "Yes, I would love to."

  I smile triumphantly and lean into her, "When does your shift end?"

  Chapter 3

  Elisabeth

  Oh, holy crap. Why? Why did I say yes? Obviously, the man is so far out of my league, it's not even funny.

  I was just ushering to greet a new customer and take their order, when my manager, Hanna, pulled me aside and asked me to tend the table in the back room. My eyes almost feel out of their sockets, because I've heard a lot of rumors about guests who make reservations there. They are always powerful or famous, or, more usual than not, both. I only work day shifts so I don't usually come face to face with those people. Today is an exception. Henry is having a sleepover with other kids at the kindergarten and I could easily take an extra shift to earn some money.

  But boy, I did not expect him. He looks like a dream come true with his dark mane of hair, piercing blue eyes, and a crisp navy suit. His cheekbones are high, his nose is straight but with a small bump right in the middle, and those lips...

  I've never has such thoughts about other men. I never found anyone attractive in the sense that I can't stop looking into his eyes and blush like a schoolgirl. I want to get to know him, to feel his arms around me, to... to just make me feel.

  I fidget with my pen and glance at Chase again, "I get off at ten."

  "You sure do," he smiles mischievously at me and his eyes glow with promise. I shudder a little just thinking about what his voice does to me. "I'll wait here. Just come find me once you're dome."

  I nod and squeak a small 'okay' before scurrying off to tend to other tables.

  This is a first. And a cat? Seriously? Why didn't I just tell him that I have a child? Because it's been a long time since you felt like a woman, and as soon as men learn that you have a kid at your age, they only see you as a slut and nothing more.

  I will tell him, just not now. I like how he looks at me like he can't get enough of me. How he makes my belly flutter in excitement. I don't want to lose it just yet. This is the feeling I've been craving for so long. To be desired, to be wanted. And I definitely saw it in his eyes.

  As soon as the clock strikes ten, I almost run to my locker and change into a dark grey skirt and a cream knitted sweater. It's a cold season this year, so I have my heeled boots on that make my legs look slimmer. I'm not a slim girl, but I'm not exactly tall, so it creates the illusion of an hourglass figure. I hated it for so long, but now I love my curves, and after giving birth to Henry my hips look wider and my waist looks thinner.

  I manage to walk through the restaurant with a straight face, very well aware of the looks that my colleagues throw at me. I slip into the back room and as soon as I close the door behind me, a strong arm wraps around my waist and I'm pulled back against a hard body.

  "I can't wait anymore. I have to taste you, sweetheart," Chase growls under his breath and his lips smash onto mine.

  I close my eyes momentarily, shocked as he kisses me. I feel him everywhere around me. I inhale his masculine scent, my head dizzy with his proximity. My arms grab his powerful shoulders and then up to pull at his hair slightly, letting out a small moan because he feels that good. Even better than I imagined. His body hovering over mine, his tongue exploring my mouth, his palm leaving a hot trail on the small of my back as he grabs my hips.

  A sudden need rises up in me. Chase lifts me up without breaking our kiss, his strong hands grasp my ass as we devour e
ach other. He groans as I tub myself against his massive hard-on pressed into me. Just thinking about how I turn him on has me whimpering again as I try to find friction against him.

  He pulls back for a second, "Fuck, you are even sweeter than I imagined." He leans his forehead to mine and we stay like that for what feels like an eternity, just feeling each other and marveling in this unbelievable bond. I thought this only happens in movies.

  "Come on, let's have our dinner or I may not be able to control myself any longer. I want to get to know you better." He helps me to the table and takes his seat. I am a little disappointed that we had to stop out hit make-out session but I know we had to.

  "What do you want to know?" I ask, wanting to get over this part as quick as possible. I don't like talking about myself. There's nothing interesting about me. I work, I spend time with my son, I cook, I clean. Repeat. This is pretty much my whole life.

  "Everything." I see his eyes crinkle with humor, but there's definitely something else. Primal need, the intensity with which he looks at me. The way his eyes trace my every inch is intoxicating.

  "There's not much to tell. I'm twenty-three, work as a waitress and my hobby is knitting." I grin, trying to light up the mood.

  Chase laughs and I swear, the sound makes me wet. His laughter is rich velvet, seeping through your skin straight into your bloodstream. I feel a slight tremor go through my whole body. I want to hear that sound again and again.

  "That's quite a hobby you have, Elisabeth. I more of a crossword and sudoku type of a guy." He grins again and I feel at ease. Chase takes my hand across the table and caresses my fingers with the lightest touch.