Always Desire (The Always Series Book 4) Read online

  Always Desire

  J.P. James

  Contents

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  Also by J.P. James

  Blurb

  1. Neil

  2. Milo

  3. Neil

  4. Milo

  5. Milo

  6. Neil

  7. Milo

  8. Milo

  9. Neil

  10. Milo

  11. Neil

  12. Milo

  13. Neil

  14. Milo

  15. Milo

  16. Neil

  17. Milo

  18. Milo

  19. Milo

  20. Neil

  21. Milo

  22. Neil

  23. Neil

  24. Milo

  25. Milo

  26. Neil

  27. Neil

  Epilogue

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  About the Author

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  Also by J.P. James

  The Always Series

  Always Yours

  Always Mine

  Always His

  The Loving Series

  Filthy Love

  Blurb

  The billionaire enjoys toying with men for his pleasure and amusement.

  Neil:

  I like to have fun, and the handsome young pianist who came over is just my type.

  Milo’s toned and athletic, with skillful fingers that dance over the keys.

  I was intrigued.

  I wanted to see those fingers dance over something hard and unyielding that would make me moan.

  So I whisked Milo upstairs and relieved him of his piano duties.

  Let’s just say it’s one of the benefits of being the boss.

  But now, the party’s over and done with.

  I’m supposed to let him go.

  After all, the young man’s just staff. No one special. Just another person on payroll.

  So I sent him off with a couple Benjamins and a thoughtless smile.

  But hot memories of that night keep resurfacing in my mind’s eye.

  His smile. His laugh. That incredible body.

  What if I want more?

  What if after that night of intense pleasure, suddenly I crave the handsome pianist desperately?

  Will he come back? Or was our love doomed from my callous treatment at the beginning?

  Note from J.P. James: Give into this passionate romance between a billionaire and the talented musician who turns his world upside down. Let yourself drift to the melody of the keys, and revel in this story of two uninhibited men who let it all go. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and always an HEA.

  1

  Neil

  “I’ll go in with you for half a billion,” I tell Stephanie Van Deene with a note of finality in my voice. Ice rattles in my glass as I take a sip of bourbon. The burn of the liquor is nice and smooth going down, the absolute best money can buy.

  Stephanie raises her glass of champagne to blood red lips. “How about a full billion? I’ll make it worth your while.”

  She tilts her head coyly, and presses an arm close to her body. The motion amplifies her already out of control cleavage, showing off mounds of buttery skin barely contained by her glittering gold dress. Her makeup is dramatic and vampy, almost clownish.

  After all, there’s nothing subtle about this woman. Stephanie may be one of the billionaires that I deal with every day, but she still dresses like a truck stop hooker.

  But to each their own.

  “Half a billion,” I say again, slipping in a small smile in acknowledgment of her efforts. “Take it or leave it. You know what you stand to gain with me, and it’s not peanuts, even by your standards. If you accept, this deal will net you ten million dollars a month, plus interest. Are you really going to make a big stir about a little bit of nothing?”

  “A little bit of nothing?” she laughs, throwing back her thick head of blonde hair. It shimmers around her bare shoulders like she’s in a shampoo commercial. I wouldn’t be surprised if Stephanie had some honest-to-God strands of gold stitched into her locks. “You have a set of balls on you, I’ll give you that, Neil Woods.”

  I shoot her a practiced smile. After all, the flash of white teeth against my bronzed skin has landed more than one deal in the past. “So, are you going to take my money, sweetheart? Or should I invest it elsewhere?”

  Her pale blue eyes go contemplative and watch me for a long minute. Maybe she’s trying to see if I’m for real, but I didn’t come this far in this business to falter every time money is at stake. Stephanie raises her champagne glass again, sending her cleavage rippling like melted butter. But I don’t even blink. Sure, I’m bisexual but for the last five years or so, I’ve only been with men. There’s something about the hard muscles and masculine musk that speak to me. Plus, this is business, and I don’t mess with my money that way.

  I take another sip of the bourbon and wait. The cold, hard look in Stephanie’s eyes tells me that the viper has come out. After all, she’s a billionaire many times over, and the woman knows when it’s time to get real. I’ve seen her work her magic enough in this city.

  Around us, Delilah’s Restaurant and Bar is crowded and loud with the sound of hushed conversation and the clinking of glasses. Delilah’s is mine, actually. It does well, but I’m not attached – meaning I would sell in a minute if the price was right. Not that I have to. It took me a long time, but these days, everything I touch turns to gold. My clients know that, which is why most of them use my services and pay whatever I ask.

  “All right, Neil. I’ll take your half a billion dollars.” Stephanie makes it sound like she is doing me a favor, but she knows better than that.

  “Good.” I show her my pearly whites. “I’ll have my guy draw up the papers tonight and send them to you by the start of business tomorrow.”

  She purses her lips, looking impressed and a little turned on. “Damn, you move fast, don’t you?”

  I nod casually. In fact, the contract’s already prepared at my attorney’s office, ready and waiting. “No sense in messing around when we know where all this foreplay is going,” I murmur.

  “I can appreciate that you like to get right down to business,” Stephanie purrs in return.

  Her glance at me is head-to-toe naked speculation, obviously scheming on how to get me into bed. It’s a look she’s given me more times than I care to count, which means it’s time to make my exit because honestly, this woman isn’t my type. Again, I’m bisexual by nature, but I haven’t been with a woman in a long time. Besides, Stephanie doesn’t tick any of my boxes. What can I say? Female predators with long, sharp teeth just aren’t my thing.

  So when a waiter walks past, I place my half-finished glass on his tray.

  “I have a few more places to hit tonight, so I’ll say goodnight to you until tomorrow.” With a shrug of my shoulders, I settle my blazer on my frame and then fasten the single button of the jacket.

  “Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay?” This time, Stephanie uses her cleavage like a weapon of mass destruction, jiggling it a bit in my direction. The golden swells of flesh ripple, but I just flash her a quick smile.

  “Thanks hon, I’m tempted,” I lie easily with a vague glance downward like I’m checking out her assets. “But I have some business across town that needs to be tended to. Please enjoy my hospitality for as long as you like.” I make a mental note to let my hostess know that all of Stephanie’s drinks are free for the rest of the night.

  “Well, maybe next time we can make our business
last longer into the night,” she whines. A light touch of her fingers down the lapel of my suit jacket is obviously meant to seduce and promise more. But I already have what I want from her.

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I let her know with a false note of promise.

  I step back out of reach, and after another smile promising nothing, I head for the door. At the hostess stand, I tell Michelle about Stephanie’s drinks being on the house and wish her a good night. Just then, a man steps out of the crowd.

  “Neil Woods, what a surprise,” brays a nasally voice. Don Hunt stalks past the hostess stand like a hunter on a safari, or I bet that’s what he thinks he looks like. But no one hunts in my place but me.

  He’s blocking the way to the hostess stand, and a few people have to step around him to get to Michelle. Scowling, I pointedly move to the side, and Don, probably not wanting to seem like too much of the asshole he actually is, does the same.

  He lumbers over next to me alone, but I’d bet money he’s not on his own here tonight. He usually has a good squad with him, ready and willing to do whatever he orders them to. Some people just can’t move around the city by themselves. They need a posse to build up their confidence.

  But I don’t see his henchman just now, and with a smirk in my direction, Don adjusts his silk tie, flashing gold cufflinks and a wide, heavy-looking pinky ring. Hopefully, he’s not trying to impress me because the Goodfellas look isn’t my thing. In fact, it hasn’t been in style for oh, about twenty years.

  It’s not that the man doesn’t look put together. His navy suit is custom, and obviously expensive to hide the growing gut he’s got going. But even the money he’s paid can’t hide the fact that he’s a sleazeball through and through. I can almost see the grease oozing from his pores, and force myself not to back up a step.

  “Don,” I slowly nod his way in acknowledgment and keep walking toward the front door. “Nice to see you.”

  “Hold up.” He puts both hands in his pockets. “Although this is a surprise, it’s actually a lucky strike to catch you here tonight, Neil. A coincidence, I should say.” Right. I stifle my urge to snort. This isn’t a coincidence – this is my restaurant, so of course I hang out here.

  But Don leans forward with an oily grin. “I want to talk to you about something.”

  “Yeah?” I turn to face him, keeping my face blank. “What’s on your mind?”

  I don’t give a shit what this guy has to say. He’s a dirty schmuck, playing with dirty money. He drags other people down in the mud with him if they’re stupid enough to join him in any of his so-called “business enterprises.” Don Hunt is always looking for investors, and the word on the street is that he’s interested in working with me. But his interest is completely one-sided because I’m not into his Bernie Madoff shenanigans, even if they’re dressed up like a pig with lipstick.

  Don looks around, checking out the crowd that’s big even for a Saturday night at Delilah’s. “You mind if we take this someplace more private?”

  My eyebrows raise.

  “We can talk right here, Don. I’ve got nothing to hide, and I’m sure you don’t either.”

  From the hostess stand, Michelle catches my eye between customers. She knows Don’s reputation as well as anyone else around here. She doesn’t look worried, though. Just watchful. I like to think it’s because she knows I won’t let anything happen in this place, or let anything happen to her. I work hard to build this kind of confidence in my people because really, my staff are what makes my businesses succeed.

  “Go ahead and tell me what’s on your mind,” I invite, as I stand there waiting. My pose is all casual confidence, along with a razor-sharp gaze.

  Something like malice flashes in Don’s eyes, and his hand clenches into a fist in his pocket where he thinks I can’t see. But he only shoots me a fake smile and steps closer to the wall, which is a clumsy attempt at privacy. Futile too because every inch of this place is wired for sound and video, so there’s no getting away from me. After all, I don’t stand for any kind of fuckery at my places of business. Not to mention, it’s always good to have proof of…well, whatever it might be.

  “Everybody in this town knows you’re an ace dealmaker, Woods,” Don says with that trademark sleazy smile. “You make money like you’re printing it yourself. I want in on that ballsy Midas shit you have going on. I want you to work for me.” He keeps going when I don’t say anything in response to his transparent flattery. “So the proposition I’ve got for you is this....”

  He outlines a plan that doesn’t surprise me one bit. It’s literally a scheme where I take his money and funnel it through a bunch of unsuspecting billionaires in the city (my clients), laundering his dirty money and multiplying it by ten. He’s got it all planned out, which tells me he’s given this a lot of thought, or at least paid someone to come up with the idea.

  The conversation and music around us mostly hide what he’s saying, but I know Michelle has her listening ears on, which is good. Part of her job description is to pay attention to customers, after all.

  I nod along as Don babbles, completely convinced that he’s got a winning hand. Finally, after what feels like an hour, he wraps it up.

  He rocks back on his heels, looking self-satisfied and triumphant. “Well, what do you think? Is this win-win for us both, or what?”

  “It’s quite an idea,” I acknowledge. “But I’m afraid it’s not for me. You must know that I don’t work for anyone else. I’m a one-man shop. Or more accurately, I have people on staff, but there’s only one guy at the top of the pyramid.”

  What I’m saying is true. After all, working for other people gives them a control over me that I’ve never been comfortable with, and that’s something I haven’t allowed for decades now. “And by the way, I should mention that I don’t play with dirty money.”

  Don looks like I’ve just punched him in the throat. His eyes bug out, and his teeth audibly start grinding together. My guess is he’s not used to hearing “no” from anybody, much less a guy he just basically offered a sweet, albeit illegal, deal to.

  “Did you hear what I just told you?” he hyperventilates, his voice getting loud. “We can make fucking millions in less than a month. Shit, less than a week. All you have to do is sign on with me, and it can happen, easy.”

  At the hostess stand, Michelle has her hand near the phone, more than ready to call 911 if I give her the signal. I shake my head.

  “I heard you just fine, it’s just that I don’t think you’re hearing me.” I pause, and Don leans closer, like he doesn’t want to miss a thing I say. “My answer is no. That’s final.” The last word drops from my mouth like a stone, heavy and obdurate.

  My manner makes it clear. It wasn’t a “No, thanks,” or a “Hey Don, let’s talk this out.” Instead it’s an absolute negative. This asshole is insulting the business I’ve built from the ground up by offering to drag it through the mud before burying it for all time.

  Don’s face rearranges itself, stretching over the bones like he’s transforming himself from a human being into a monster. He’s mad as hell, but I merely shrug.

  “I don’t think you get what I’m saying, Neil. ‘No’ is not an answer I’m ready to take from you.” Without looking in any direction, he waves a hand. His gold pinkie ring glints in the light, and seconds later, a couple of thugs in suits pop out of nowhere.

  Looks like we’re finally getting to the meat of this sandwich he’s trying to shove down my throat. The guys, overly muscled and looking like extras from a generic gangster flick, loom behind Don. One of them opens his suit coat in an obvious way, like he has the balls to pull a gun on me in my own place. Their big, bushy brows lower in what’s probably supposed to be a threatening manner, and Don looks self-satisfied. I almost hate to disappoint him. Almost, but not quite.

  After a glance at my watch, I reach into my pocket and pull out a business card.

  “My answer is still the same, Don.” I hand him the small square face do
wn. “But I know a guy who might be just what you’re looking for.”

  Frowning, he looks at the card. “Victor Lancaster? Who’s that?”

  I shrug. “He’s in the same business as I am, maybe not as good, but he sounds perfect for what you have in mind. Victor won’t have any issues working for someone with your particular mindset and business ethics.” That’s putting it lightly. Victor would throw his own grandmother into traffic to make a quick buck. “Good luck with your business ventures, and feel free to spend as much money as you like here tonight.”

  With a crisp movement, I adjust my cuffs and then turn to head for the door, very much done with these assholes for the rest of the night. “Oh, and by the way, if you ever threaten me again, I’ll make you regret it. Goodnight, gentlemen.”

  On my way out, I slip a hundred dollar bill to Michelle for having to deal with this bullshit. Stepping out, I breathe in the cold night air. It’s just another night of business, but I’m getting sick of it. Instead of being a noisy and crowded place, I wish I had a lover at hand. Someone young, taut, with a firm body and a winning smile. Someone who knows me inside out, and adores me for who and what I stand for. Where is this man? Will I ever find him? Shoulders slumping a bit, I disappear into the mist.

  2

  Milo