The Billionaire Prince: One Fateful Night(5)

“I liked you better naked,” the man said.

“I thought you would be more romantic,” Amie complained. She rubbed her wrists and ankles and pouted.

“Picking up a stranger at a bar isn’t generally the best recipe for romance,” he replied coolly. “Besides, by my count, I made you cum at least a dozen times. That’s far better than storybook romance, isn’t it? Or do all the men you pick up in bars have that effect on you?” He was already dressed with the exception of his necktie. As Amie watched, he slid the tie around his neck and began the complicated procedure of knotting it without looking in the mirror.

“Lie down with me,” Amie demanded.

To her surprise, her lover complied. He removed his shoes and socks before lying stiffly on top of the covers where he had just f*cked her senseless.

Amie happily curled up against his side with one arm over his chest. Fully dressed, she fell asleep in his arms with the lights on.

The following morning, Amie was surprised to wake up alone. There was no trace of last night’s sex partner in her apartment. If she had been just a bit drunker, she would have wondered whether he was even real. As it was, she knew that he was real, and she was pissed off.

“How dare he f*ck me like an animal and then leave before sunrise,” she said aloud to herself. Amie stormed around the apartment. She was looking for any sign of goodwill like a hastily scribbled apology note, a business card or a neatly printed phone number on a napkin. There was nothing.

Cursing and feeling like a fool, she stomped back into the bedroom where she promptly ground her foot into something ridiculously painful. Screaming and swearing like a sailor, Amie bent down to retrieve the offending item. It was a large and ornately decorated silver ring that bore a single initial. R.

Amie’s fury grew, and she set the ring aside. After a hasty shower, she dressed in the same obscenely short outfit from the previous evening, grabbed the ring and drove to the bar where she had met the businessman who had f*cked her and run without even sharing a cup of coffee.

She parked the car in the empty parking lot and stormed into the establishment.

“We aren’t really open yet,” a worker told her. “We’re just cleaning up from last night and getting ready for this evening. Could you come back in a few hours?”



“Thank you,” Amie said. “Actually, I am not really here as a customer. I’m here because I need your help. I met a man here last night.” Amie blushed. “He left something behind in my apartment, and I would like to return it to him personally.” She also wanted to give him a piece of her mind, but she decided not to share that information with the bar staff.

“I don’t know what I can do to help,” the young man said. “What did he leave behind?”



“This ring,” Amie said. She held the ring out for his inspection and observed the expression on his face turn to terror.

“I can’t help you,” he said and abruptly walked away from her without saying another word.

Amie wasn’t about to be deterred by one strange reaction. She walked up to the bar where the same bartender from last night was busy restocking supplies.

He sensed movement at the bar and spun around to look at her.

“I need to know more about the man who was here last night,” Amie demanded.

“There were a lot of men here last night,” he replied evasively. He refused to look her in the eyes.

“You know who I mean,” she said. “He was sitting right here.” She indicated the barstool next to the one that she had occupied, which almost looked as if it still had a visible print of her buttocks on its vinyl surface. “He bought me drinks.”



“Sorry. You weren’t the only woman here last night, either. I have no idea who you are talking about.” He looked uncomfortable.

“Well, does this ring look familiar?” She held out the ring for his inspection and was gratified to see his tanned skin turn pale. “You do know who I am talking about,” she said. “I knew it.” Her accusation was met with silence.

At that moment, a large and imposing figure appeared in the doorway. She turned her head to find the owner of the ring standing there. He crossed the space between them in three long strides and snatched the ring from her outstretched hand.

“Thank you for returning my ring,” he said, placing it on the bar. He motioned to the bartender. “I will have the usual.” He faced her; he was expressionless. “What will you have?”



“I’ll tell you what I won’t have,” she said. “I won’t have anything that you’re buying. Besides, I thought the bar wasn’t even open yet.”



“It isn’t,” he said. “However, they would never deny me service. It wouldn’t be in their best interests to do so.” He reached for the snifter of liquid that the bartender quickly set in front of him.

“You are really full of yourself,” Amie fumed. “What gives you the right to treat people like you do? How dare you leave my apartment without saying a word?”



“I said all there was to say when I was inside you, Annie,” he replied calmly. “If you were looking for something more than that, perhaps you should have taken a different man home.”