In the Billionaires Club (20 page)

“I think you’re selling him short.”

“And now if I tell him I love him, he’ll think that it’s because I found out that he’s a billionaire.”
 

“Gin.”

Gin stared to sob. “I deserve it, too. I deserve it! He’ll say, ‘Sure, now that you know I’m a zillionaire you tell me that you love me.’”

“Gin.”

Gin looked up at Rich. “What?”

“Vin left for his vineyard. He wanted to be alone. He’s going to try to get over you. That does’t mean he
is
over you.” Rich slid a piece of paper across the bar toward Gin. “Here’s the address. Why don’t you go and see if you can get there before
try
becomes
is
?”

Gin picked up the paper. “It’s not too late?”

Rich shook his head. “I’ve watched you two idiots since you first entered the bar. The world will be a much worse place if you two don’t end up together.” Rich winked.
 

Gin held up her empty glass. “I need one for the road, and my drink is empty. You may be a good friend, but you’re a lousy bartender.”

Rich laughed, and filled her drink.

chapter twenty-four

Frank seemed excited to run Gin out to Sonoma. “Cornell vineyards? Long history that one. Vinnie Caples is renovating it, I hear.”
 

Gin peered at Frank. “You know Vin?”

“Sure. Everyone knows about Vinnie. Good guy. I drove him a few times back when he was just starting Bluegreen. Good tipper. Didn’t say much, but when he did it always made me laugh. Wasn’t afraid to make fun of himself.”

“That sounds like him,” Gin smiled.
 

Frank tried to make conversation, but Gin couldn’t concentrate. She kept tapping her feet and giving short answers. Despite having over an hour to think things over during the drive, she still didn’t know what she’d say to Vin. She just wanted to throw herself into his arms and just hold him tight, never letting him go.

“Here we are, Ms. Langdon, Cornell Vineyards.” Frank drove up to a gatehouse, but there was no guard. He inched forward, but there was no sign of a house, just acres and acres of grapevines.
 

Frank followed the road as Gin stared out the window, looking around for any clue for a house in the hills, which was how Vin described it. After a long looping drive, the ended up back in at the gatehouse.
 

Scratching his head, Frank said, “Maybe this is just one of the vineyards, and the house is in a different spot.”

“How can there be another spot? The sign for the vineyard is right there, and this is enormous. The house
has
to be here.” Gin was getting desperate and felt on the verge of tears. She kept thinking back to Rich’s comment about having enough time to stop Vin’s
try
from turning into an
is
. How much time did she have?

“I’ll try further up the road.” Frank pulled out, and Gin had to do everything in her power not to scream at him to try one more time. She was desperate enough to trust him, but she wanted to scream
How can I meet Vin at the vineyard when we’re leaving the vineyard?

A couple miles up the road, there was a driveway leading up into the hills. Posted on the fence next to the driveway was an absurd number of construction and renovation permits. At the corner of the driveway and the road was a historical marker, signifying the original location of the Cornell Winery.
 

“Here we go!” Frank said as he pulled into the driveway. Gin was on the edge of her seat peering into the darkness as they went further and further up into the hills. A small light appeared in the distance, and Gin focused all her attention on it as they drew closer.

The light was from a huge mansion that looked to be about half renovated. It stood on a plateau of the hills and overlooked the whole valley, including the massive vineyards that they had left earlier. There was a wide roundabout driveway in the front of the mansion, and Frank stopped next to an Audi, the only other car there.
 

The entryway was a plywood door. The renovation of the wing off to the right looked like it was mostly finished, while the wing to the left looked like it was about to collapse. Gin yanked the door open. “Leave my bags on the porch, Frank. Thank you so much. You can head back.” The words came out in a rush, and Gin didn’t even think if they were wise. She didn’t even want to consider the possibility of asking Frank to take her back to Oakland.
 

She opened the plywood door.

The mansion was a shell to the left. Construction and renovation equipment filled the outline of rooms with no walls. The entryway was better, but everything was covered in tarps and supported with wooden planks and scaffolding. Still, even with the mess she could appreciate the beautiful marble staircase that led upstairs.
 

From outside she heard Frank’s limousine pull away and head off down the road.
 

The difference was astonishing as Gin pushed aside a plastic sheet and took a step into the wing to the right. Sconces ran the length of the hall, revealing a beautiful lush carpet over hardwood floors. She couldn’t remember being in a more beautiful house.
 

Closed doors to rooms ran along the hallway to the left and right. At the very end was an open door with bright light pouring out.
He’s there
, Gin thought. She wanted to rush to Vin, but she wanted to surprise him, to not give him an opportunity to be angry over her presence until she apologized.

So she approached slowly.

The beauty of the details of the woodwork and the paintings that lined the walls were stunning and drew her attention. About halfway down the hall, one large painting of fields and hills caught her eye. It was extraordinary. She couldn’t help but stare at it.

“Winslow Homer. See the house in the distance. Does it look familiar?”

Gin jerked her head to the right to see Vin standing in the doorway at the end of the hallway. She gasped. He was leaning against the door jamb, his arms crossed, the light behind him a dramatic background. He had a commanding, even noble, presence that Gin had never noticed before.

“Vin—” Gin whispered.
 

“It’s this house and the original vineyard. I bought the painting before I bought the property. I want to return it to the beauty in the painting. I can’t believe you focused on that one painting. It means so much to me.”

Gin ran to him. He stood still, watching her approach, and for a moment Gin thought that he would shove her aside, telling her off for being so shallow, so cruel, and so stupid. But then he reached out to her, his arms welcoming her in a way that his voice always did but that she never understood.

She buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so sorry, Vin. I’m so sorry.”
 

“Don’t be sorry, Gin.” Vin’s arms pulled her tight, and Gin felt him kiss her head. “It’s okay.”

She pulled back and looked up at him. “I love you, Vin. I love you with my entire being.” Gin lowered her head, “But I know what you think. I got burnt by another guy, and now I’m chasing another billionaire.”

Vin placed his palms against each of Gin’s cheeks and gently turned her face up to his. Gin had never seen a more handsome man. His dimples were perfect as they framed his beautiful smile, and his eyes—they were a combination of sympathy, love, and—something else. “Gin, if you were willing to take me as an alcoholic bartender. I’m pretty certain that you weren’t thinking of money at all.”
 

Vin leaned down and kissed her. Gin dropped her arms to her side, letting Vin’s hands hold her as his soft lips pressed against hers. He let go and stood up straight.
 

“Rich called you?” Vin nodded.

“I’ve said this before, but I don’t think you understood at the time. I love you, Gin.”

“I love you, too,” Gin whispered, and a torrent of feelings were set free. The tears were gone. The anxiety and fear were gone. All that she felt was love and a desire so strong she couldn’t hold it back if she wanted to. “Kiss me, Vin. Hold me. I love you. Even if I didn’t know it, I’ve always loved you.”
 

Vin gently caressed her face with his hand, wiping her tears away with his thumb. “You are so passionate,” he whispered.

As he said the words, Gin realized that he was right. She badly wanted him. The desire was overwhelming. She wanted to touch, feel, and taste Vin. “I need you to make love to me,” she whispered.
 

 
She had always been incredibly sexual. She loved sex, adored it even. It was part of who she was, for better or worse, and now she knew it was part of something more, something wonderful and sweet and hot in a way that made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

“You sure that wouldn’t be a mistake?” Vin had the mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “Your recent track record seems to suggest caution on that front.”
 

“Oh my God.” Gin slapped Vin on the arm. “I can’t believe you went there!” She smiled. Only Vin would tease her when she expressed her love for him and asked him to make love to her.

“Hey, I’m just saying you don’t know what you’re getting into with me.” The tone of Vin’s voice made it clear that he was not only teasing her, but he was
teasing
her, with the possibility of unknown sexual adventures. “After all, I’m the one who invited you to a weekend in Sonoma. I’m afraid my intentions may not have been pure.”

Gin had never experienced foreplay like this. It was more arousing than if Vin was undressing her. Was this even foreplay? All she knew was that it was amusing and fun and natural, which also made it hotter. In fact, Vin’s implying that she didn’t know what she would be getting into with him put her well beyond the romantic concept of making love. She wanted to fuck Vin until he was lost in ecstasy.

“I think you’re the one who will be getting into something,” Gin said, flashing her own mischievous smile. Before he could reply, she reached over and took Vin’s right hand in hers. She kissed his palm and then pressed his hand against the middle of her chest. “This is yours, Vin.” She then slid his hand over and shivered as she cupped it against her breast. “This is yours, too.” She then slid his hand down between her legs. She closed her eyes and gasped as she pressed his hand against her pussy. “This is yours, too.” She was wet with incredible desire.

Gin let go, but Vin kept his hand in place. The eroticism of his hand
right there
while he didn’t do anything with it was maddening. Gin swallowed and looked up at Vin’s face. She had never seen the look on his face before. It was pure lust and desire, like he wanted to take her, own her, ravish her. She took a deep breath. His look, and the sensation of his hand pressing against her pussy made her want to do nothing more than to rip off her shorts and panties.
 

A small smile formed on Vin’s face. He pushed his hand against Gin’s pussy, making her gasp. He then said, “I don’t know. Maybe we should go slow.”
 

Two can play the tease game.
Gin smiled and pressed her hand against Vin’s crotch. His cock was hard and straining against his jeans. “Vin, we are going to be together in this house for the next three days and two nights.” She started to run her palm up and down his cock. “At some point we are going to make love. You know it. I know it. So it’s not a matter of
if
it is going to happen. It’s a matter of
when
it’s going to happen.”

Gin slid her hands up to the button of Vin’s jeans. “And don’t you think it would be better to do it now—” Gin unbuttoned the top button of Vin’s jeans and then slowly lowered his zipper. “—than later?” She slid her hand down along the front of Vin’s briefs. “Don’t you think it would be better to not wait?”

Vin nodded his head, but didn’t say anything as Gin stroked his cock through the cotton material of his briefs. “Hmm. You don’t sound too sure.” Gin kissed Vin on the chest. “Maybe you need some convincing.” She kissed him a little lower and then left a trail of kisses as she lowered herself to her knees.
 

Gin tugged his jeans down to his ankles and then kissed Vin’s cock through his briefs. She looked up and smiled as Vin stared at her. He was in pure bliss. She licked his cock through the material. “You will totally think less of me for saying this, but I’m really good at blowjobs.” She then tugged down his briefs and took Vin’s cock in her hand.
 

“I don’t think less of you.” Gin licked the head of his cock. “Ohhh. In fact, I think I may love you more.”
 

Gin looked up and smiled. “Let me get this straight. You love me more for having fucked a lot of guys.”

“I love you more for
practicing
with a lot of guys as you prepared for perfection with me,” Vin replied. Gin stroked his cock with her hand.

“Oh, so you’re expecting perfection? That’s a pretty high standard.”

“Maybe you should sleep with a few more guys for practice, then.”
 

“Asshole.” Gin laughed. “Anyway, I didn’t tell you I wasn’t perfect. Just that it was a high standard. In fact, tell me what you think.” Gin wrapped her lips around Vin’s cock and sucked gently. She then slid it deep into her mouth, pressing his cock against the back of her throat. She glided her mouth up and down on his cock, stopping at the end to flick her tongue against the spot right under the head.

“Oh my God, that feels so good.”
 

Gin pulled back and looked up, smiling. “Oh, I’m just getting started.” As she said the words, she felt Vin’s already hard cock get even harder in her hand. She licked his shaft and then lowered her head to lick and suck his balls. She stroked his cock with her hand while she licked his balls, pausing every so often to give them a soft suck.

Running her tongue up the underside of Vin’s cock, she flicked her tongue along the underside of the head, enjoying how she could feel it move with each lick. Gin glanced up to see Vin staring at her. She smiled and then slid him into her mouth.
 

Grabbing his ass with her hands, Gin pulled him into her mouth, his hard cock pressing against her throat. With a small push, she took his entire cock into her mouth and into her throat. She clutched his ass with her hands as she slid his cock out and then deep into her throat. She paused to enjoy the feeling of his abdomen and balls pressing against her lips.