The Billionaire Bachelor Read online

  “And would this nameless person's name begin with a C?”

  “Perhaps...but I'm not so uncouth as to talk about other potential partners on a date that's meant to be just the two of us. No, I'd much rather talk about something much more interesting.” Ellie lowered her voice and leaned forward, letting the low light of the candles dance in her eyes.

  “And what would that be?” Adrian asked, mirroring Ellie's movements.

  “You Adrian, just you.”

  Adrian's mouth curled into a smile and his eyebrow arched. “And what would you like to know?”

  “Well, we have been on a few dates now and while I know that this is your show and we're the ones that are supposed to convince you why we'd make the perfect wife, we're still going to have to live with you and there's a lot I don't know about you.”

  “Like?”

  “Well, like what side of the bed do you sleep on? Do you like to keep your socks and underwear in the same drawer or separate? Why did you sign up to this show when there must be so many other, easier ways for you to meet a woman?”

  Adrian laughed. “I prefer the left, I keep them in the same drawer, and that last one isn't really in the same category.”

  “Maybe, maybe not, but it's still a valid question and I'm just dying to know the answer. Let's face it, you're quite a catch and it's hard enough to believe that you aren't married at all let alone that you need help from a television show to find a potential wife. Unless there's some dark secret that you're not sharing with us, and I have to say that the longer this goes on the more likely it is that people will start to suspect that there's something wrong, and we wouldn't want that happening, would we?”

  “No, I suppose we wouldn't,” he said, and laughed. “Damn you Ellie, I don't know what it is about you but there's something I just can't say no to. You are definitely going to be trouble.”

  “I think I'm trouble already,” she said.

  “Okay, the truth. You want the truth. Will you promise that you won't think any less of me afterwards?” he asked. For the first time, Ellie was actually afraid of something he was going to say. He had a serious look on his face and she wondered if she hadn't pushed too far. Often things that seemed too good to be true were, and she was worried that there was going to be something about him that would change her entire perception of him. It felt like she had gone too far to let the dream slip now and she didn't want to let go, but if he had a secret then she wanted to know what it was.

  “I promise,” Ellie said, hoping that it wouldn't be anything too bad.

  “So the thing is that I've never been too good with women and the idea of casual dating has never really appealed to me. I know it's old fashioned but I like to take my time and really get to know someone before I commit to them. I hate rushing into things and I feel that it's important to let a relationship grow and flourish. It's always been hard for me to make that connection. I thought that it would happen naturally in life, because that's the way it seemed to go for everyone else but it didn't seem to go that way for me. Suddenly my twenties were over and I still hadn't made any progress in that area of my life and my mother was getting rather anxious. She kept hounding me about getting married and eventually she said that either I take some steps on my own or she would arrange for me to meet some women. I figured that this was going to be less embarrassing than being set up on blind dates by my mother so here we are.”

  Ellie burst out laughing. “If that's your darkest secret we should be fine. Do you know if she watches this?”

  “Oh quite probably.”

  “What's her name?”

  “Mandy.”

  “Hi Mandy! Don't worry, your son is in safe hands!” Ellie yelled to the camera and waved enthusiastically. Adrian laughed heartily, so much so that he slapped his palm against the table and caused everything to rattle. This only made them laugh even harder and their sides were splitting. They finished off the wine but didn't want another bottle. Adrian suggested they go for a drink. He helped Ellie up; she was a little more off-balance than he, but they both had difficulty walking in a straight line.

  They walked along the shore, the sea lapping at their feet. It was cool and calming.

  “I haven't had this much fun in a long time,” Adrian said, “but one thing puzzles me about you. I mean, yeah on paper it should be easy for me to get a girlfriend but you're a good catch. Why are you on this show? You're not looking to be famous, so what gives?”

  “I want the same things as you I guess. I didn't like the idea of meeting someone in a bar and nobody I know knew anyone suitable. I know exactly what I'm looking for and maybe it's unfair to most people but they just can't fit in that box. I thought this would be different and I might as well find my chances. I'm just glad that the man on this island turned out to be you.”

  She smiled sweetly at him and found that his hand linked in with hers. He was warm and strong. She felt so small next to him, but also so safe. This was perfect, just the two of them, and for a moment she let herself forget that there were other women vying for his affections. For a moment, she let herself forget about the cameras and the fact that she was being recorded. For a moment, she knew what it was like to be on a date with the man of her dreams.

  “And I'm glad that you turned out to be one of the contestants. I wasn't really sure what I expected when I signed up here but it certainly wasn't this.” He stopped and took Ellie's other hand in his. He looked down at her. He was so tall that she had to tilt her head up just to look at him. The wine and the attraction were playing havoc with her mind and she loved every second of it. He leaned in close. His lips brushed her cheek. His hot breath tickled the fine hairs on her neck when he whispered words that made her heart sing. “I wish I could end this show now and just take you home with me.”

  As he pulled away, Ellie reached around his neck and jumped at him, pressing her body against his. Their lips found each other and their tongues danced with each other. Heat passed between them, surging up and lancing through their bodies like a hot poker. The kiss was so passionate that Ellie could feel her lips begin to bruise yet she did not want it to end at all. The night air swirled around them both as they surrendered to their passions and their desires. Through everything the two of them had found each other, a match in this world of chaos, and all Ellie had to do was wait until the end of the show before she won her prize.

  And yet neither of them could wait for each other. Their hands grew more ardent as they explored each other’s bodies. Moans flew through the air and were caught on the wind. Ellie felt his arousal and gasped, impressed and intimidated all at once. Adrian's hands were tight against her skin, holding her, keeping her near him, making sure that she would never leave. They looked into each other’s eyes and there was so much left unspoken. The sea lapped around their ankles. Adrian was seized by a wonderful idea. He pulled her hand and leaped into the sea, swimming out as far as he could.

  “You're crazy!” she said.

  “I know,” he replied, “but it'll take them a while to get a microphone out here, and the ones we're wearing aren't waterproof.” He kissed her again, more enthusiastically this time. The water rushed against her chin. She threw back her head and laughed with glee.

  “Did you really mean what you said to me?”

  “Yes, a hundred times yes. I've wanted to tell you for a long time but they wouldn't let me. I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were different and I really do wish that we were able to just get away from here and spend some proper time together away from all the cameras, if that's what you'd like, of course.”

  “Oh it is Adrian, it really is. I've felt it too. I just knew that there was something between us! I'm so glad you feel the same way,” they kissed some more. The affection and happiness soon gave way to heated passion. Underneath the water their eager hands groped at each other, finding secret pathways through their clothes to the flesh underneath. Ellie ran her hands under the buttons of his shirt and felt his hard torso, his
muscles taut and sinewy. His hands moved around her back and slipped the zipper down. The dress was off her body easily and went floating away. Never had Ellie done anything like this before but the wine and romance of the evening had lowered her inhibitions. Now the exhilaration and delirium were making anything possible. The sensations that flowed through her body were wondrous and she was so, so happy to be with him.

  So much so that they freed each other of their clothes. They enjoyed exploring each other’s naked bodies underneath the surface of the water. The mysterious touch of hands only added to the allure and the explosive sensations that were shooting through Ellie's body. Then it came, sudden and hard, the rush of pleasure as their bodies joined together. The attraction between them was relentless and unstoppable and they were both taken away by the magic of the evening. The stars shined and the moon smiled at them as Ellie was unable to tell where her flesh ended and his began. Guttural moans swept against her ears as they clung onto each other, their bodies entwined in the water. Her hair draped against his broad shoulders and she heard the echoes of their heartbeats slowly becoming one.

  She was his and he was hers. On that night with the moon as a witness they sealed a sacred pact. It was only a matter of time until the two of them were together properly. The day couldn't come soon enough for Ellie. Her orgasmic scream rippled across the sea and swirled away into the still night sky. The water continued to lap against her skin as Adrian's shuddering body held her tight, every muscle in him tense and rigid, and then the cool, calm water carried them back to shore where they covered their bodies in embarrassed modesty as the producers rushed up to them and chastised them for their reckless behavior.

  4

  The date was over but for Ellie it felt like her story was only just beginning. Adrian had told her everything she had dreamed of hearing and now her dreams were coming true. It felt strange to think that this could actually happen to her, but it was happening and her heart leaped with joy. She certainly hadn't expected to have sex with him though, and she wasn't sure he had either considering what he'd said about not wanting to rush into anything or having casual relationships. The romance of the moment had swept them away however. It had been perfect, just the two of them and the stars, the moon, and the sea. She was glad that he had ensured the cameras weren't on them in that moment for she didn't want everyone in America seeing that side of her.

  With all that settled she knew the rest of the show was going to be a breeze. All she had to do was keep up appearances and not act too confident so as not to give the game away to the other contestants, which was hard because she wanted to brag so much.

  The following morning Jordan was the first to see her and it was difficult for Ellie not to give her all the details. All she said was that she'd had a wonderful time and she was looking forward to the rest of the show. Jordan pressed but couldn't get any more details out of her than that.

  Ellie was positively glowing as the week continued. There was another vote and, unsurprisingly, Annalise was sent home. It was sad to see her go but Ellie wasn't too sad. After all, Annalise hadn't stood a chance anyway. None of them did. She exchanged coy glances with Adrian wherever possible. It must have been hard for him too, she thought, as he had already made up his mind but had to give these other women false hope. The only person she didn't regret this happening to was Charlotte. Charlotte was still acting so smug around everything that Ellie almost wanted to tell her to her face what Adrian had said to her on the beach. But Ellie held her tongue, figuring that it would be all the sweeter to wait until the final to see Charlotte break down.

  The next date had been scheduled with Jordan. Ellie wished her luck and spent the evening reading, although she was feeling a little under the weather. She passed it off as excitement and nerves, or just a bug she had caught from being around so many people. When Jordan came back, Ellie was ready with questions, wanting to know how it had gone. Jordan's body language was despondent though. She slumped in a chair and exhaled deeply, then lifted her head up to the ceiling.

  “I'm an idiot. How did I ever think a billionaire was ever going to be interested in someone like me?”

  “Why do you say that? What happened?”

  “It was just a disaster. He just wasn't interested I mean, I know that he's not my type but he's usually been charming and played the part. I could at least fall in love with the fantasy of him but this time there was just nothing...”

  “I'm sorry,” Ellie said.

  “It's not your fault,” Jordan sighed, little suspecting that in a way it was indeed Ellie's fault. “It's just me. I should have known better than to ever come on this show.”

  “You're being way too hard on yourself. You've lasted to the final four. That's something to be proud of! You know you wouldn't have gotten this far if there wasn't something about you. And I bet when you get out of here you'll be flooded with offers. I bet you there are loads of men screaming at their television screens wondering why Adrian isn't giving you more attention.”

  “You really think so?”

  “I do,” Ellie said, perching herself on the arm of Jordan's chair. She wrapped a comforting arm around Jordan's shoulders.

  “Thank you. But there is one problem with that. None of the men are going to be Adrian. I wish I didn't like him as much as I do. I hate this because I always go for the men I can't have, but I can't help it. I just wish he could feel the same way.”

  “Your prince charming is still out there Jordan. Don't give up yet. Stay strong and remember that you are amazing, and Adrian can't see that then somebody else will.”

  Jordan seemed a little cheered up by Ellie's words but she was still mostly despondent. It was difficult and Ellie imagined she would be feeling the same if she were in Jordan's shoes. All the women had put in so much effort to be the best that it was difficult to be rebuffed. Thankfully Ellie didn't have to feel that way. It was coming down to the final votes soon. Tanya and Jordan would be going next, although Ellie wasn't sure in which order, and then it would be down to her and Charlotte. The rivalry had really been played up between the two of them so it was the only way it could end really, and it would be a sweet, sweet victory for Ellie. She couldn't wait to ride off into the sunset with Adrian.

  5

  Ellie's overjoyed feelings were only marred by the bug she was suffering from. She had headaches, nausea, frequent vomiting, and mood swings. She hadn't managed to enjoy any alone time with Adrian and she was already beginning to miss him. It was perhaps foolish to feel that way but her feelings for him were so intense and she had no outlet for them. Instead she had to listen to Charlotte prattle on about what a perfect match they would make. Ellie didn't know how she managed to hold her tongue but it took an inhuman effort on her part.

  She nourished her soul on memories of that night, about how the handsome and sexy billionaire had swept her into the ocean and made love to her under the stars. It was a happy and fond memory; one she was sure she would treasure for years to come. She was glad it had happened even though it had been the product of intoxication, but as the feelings in her stomach continued to churn there was one fact about the evening of which she was not certain. It had all happened so quickly she had barely had time to even think about stopping it. It felt as though it had been written in the stars, as though it had been fated, and there was no way to pause the proceedings.

  But in their haste to express their affection for each other, Ellie and Adrian had forgotten one fateful thing. The spur of the moment, their minds whirling with wine and love, had pushed aside thoughts of the future and any kind of responsibility. They had been creatures of the moment, existing in one ethereal, eternal forever that was borne from their passion. Neither of them heeded the warnings that had been drummed into them ever since they were teenagers. Neither of them had paid any thought to the simple way human biology worked. And now Ellie was being given a stark reminder of it. Though there was no test she knew it to be true. The symptoms were the same and the fact that h
er period was days late was another factor, but the most telling thing was the feeling of her heart. Her mother had told her to always trust her instinct because her intuition was one of her most powerful assets, and it told her one solid, incontrovertible truth.

  She was pregnant.

  Ellie fell to her knees in panic. This wasn't part of the plan. Adrian had spoken of not wanting to rush things. This was the very definition of everything he didn't want! There was no way he would ever want to be with her now, and she was sure that the producers of the show wouldn't be happy either. They'd probably paint it so that she was trying to entrap him by trying to have his baby because she wasn't confident enough of winning the competition outright. No. There had to be another way. But what? How? Maybe she could get rid...no, she couldn't even finish the thought. The life growing inside of her was not responsible for any of this and didn't deserve to suffer the consequences. The responsible thing would have been to go to Adrian and tell him all about it but there was no way she'd be able to get any sort of alone time with him, especially not after the stunt they pulled by going into the sea. The producers were watching him like hawks now and this was most definitely a conversation she needed to have in private.