Be Mine: London Billionaires, #1

By Alyssia Leon

She's loved him forever. But he wants her for just one night.

Aurora Willis has loved Nathan since she was a teenager. But he barely noticed her. Now twenty-two and still a virgin, Aurora is desperate to ditch her hopeless feelings for him and finally find true love of her own.
Billionaire Nathaniel Travers is riding high on fame, glory, and more female attention than he wants. He left Aurora behind in his past years ago. But when an accident leaves him helpless, she's the only person he can turn to.
Just when Aurora is about to leap into a new love, Nathan comes crashing back into her life, stoking all the fire buried inside her. And he's been keeping a secret of his own, but it has nothing to do with love.
Is Aurora ready to sacrifice her heart, her future, everything to be his for just one night?

STANDALONE Contemporary Romance | A London Billionaires Novel

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sagewood Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Jul 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781911519003

Alyssia Leon

Visit AlyssiaLeon.com for subscriber-exclusive free books and bonus content. Alyssia Leon writes stories filled with magic, mystery, and sexy romance. Her books have uniquely rich plots and colorful characters, but can get quite steamy (blame her alpha heroes), and always end in a happy ever after, because she loves an awesome happy ever after. Alyssia grew up in the UK and still lives and writes there.

Book preview

1

Nathaniel Travers opened his eyes, or… tried to.

A soft weight rested on them. He frowned, his mind a blank except for the knowledge that he was still himself, and he was… somewhere.

One by one, sensations clicked into place. The pillow beneath his head. The firm mattress. A machine’s steady beep to his left. The lemony scent of disinfectant. His limbs were heavy, unmovable. His head throbbed.

A small tink sounded nearby, like one metal object being placed on top of another. Was someone there?

He parted his lips to call out, but his tongue stuck to the roof of his dry mouth, and no sound came from his throat.

Hell! 

He strained to raise his right arm and rip away whatever covered his eyes, but managed only an inch before the machine beeping beside him raced into alarmed panic.

A gentle hand pushed his arm back onto the mattress, and the beep subsided to its original calm tone. Rest please, Mr Travers. I go to call the doctor. Her English had the typical Swiss accent. Her words were professional, no-nonsense. 

He was still in Switzerland. And he was in a hospital. 

Memories assaulted him, and he sank back against the bed, reliving them. The snow-packed ground beneath his skis rolling loose. The flash of tumbling forward. Slabs of ice crashing into his back. He’d gasped for breath, but the ice had pierced his lungs, and then… darkness.

Panic seized him. Andy. Where the hell was Andy?

The question refused to come out, and swallowing he tried again. Andy? Was that his voice? It sounded like a croak faraway. 

A door clicked shut, and everything was quiet except for the beep. The nurse must have left.

Hell, this was all his fault. 

A three-day break in the Swiss Alps, and on the last day he’d talked Andy into leaving the groomed and controlled pistes and taking a backcountry descent with him instead. And why? All because he’d hated the crowds, the people recognizing him, the journalists out to cop an impromptu interview, and the women who knew of his recent single status and wanted a piece of him. 

The serene mountains beyond had looked more than inviting.

 They’d still taken safety gear and an experienced guide even though there had been no avalanche warnings. But what had begun as a sensational gravity-defying flight through fresh snow had in seconds turned into a fight for his life. And now here he was, on a hospital bed and barely able to move. 

But where was Andy? Same condition as him? Worse?

Dread settled like a heavy stone. No one cared if he, Nathan, lived or died, but Andy had family—a loving wife and a newborn daughter. Nathan had sometimes envied his best friend for that love, but right now he’d give his life if only to return Andy to his family, unharmed.

He had to do something. 

Maybe if he set that damn machine off again someone would come back from the black hole they’d disappeared into and answer his questions.

He raised his right arm, the one that felt like it had tubes stuck in it, and gritting his teeth against the dull pain, managed a few more inches than before. But no alarm sounded. The stupid machine beeped on, oblivious to his need.

Fuck!

At least his voice was back to normal.

The door opened and heavy footsteps thudded.

He rolled his head, unseeing, towards the sound. Andy? 

Nathan! Bloody hell, man. You had me scared.

Andy’s voice boomed strong, and relief like he’d never felt before flooded Nathan. The footsteps rushed closer and Andy clutched his left hand tight. 

Nathan gripped his friend back, strength flowing into his body from their contact. You’re all right.

I’m all right? Andy said with a laugh. I’m bloody brilliant. It’s you who’s had me on the edge of my seat for a whole bloody day.

Nathan laughed in relief, keeping tight hold of Andy’s hand. A chair scraped beside him as Andy pulled it closer to the bed. 

They went back years, living, working, and revelling together long before they’d founded their globally successful company five years ago.

Nathan frowned. Rainier, is he…? Their guide had been in the front. He should have escaped. 

Scrapes and bruises, like me. He’s back with his family. We were lucky, bud. That avalanche was a small one.

Man, I’m sorry for getting you into this.

Nah, golden boy, even you don’t control the weather.

Nathan smirked at the nickname the media had dubbed him for his rapid rise in the tech industry.

Our airbags saved us from the worst of it, Andy continued. Kept us above the slide. But you didn’t have time to pull the release handle before the snow was on you.

Fuck, it was too quick. Nothing can prepare you for that.

Yeah… Andy exhaled. We found you at the bottom of the run, Nathan. You’d smashed your head against a rock, and you’ve been out since. Andy squeezed his hand. Thank God you had a helmet on. I don’t know if we’d be here talking otherwise.

I’m fine, Nathan growled, and pulling his hand from Andy’s grasp, touched the thick padding covering his eyes. What’s with this thing?

The doctors weren’t sure if the crash affected your sight. It’s a precaution until they can give you the all clear. But hey, cheer up. You’re a man of steel otherwise. No broken bones anywhere.

I’m thrilled.

Look, Nathan. Andy’s tone lowered. The doctors want you to take it easy for a week, so I’m officially banning you from the office until the day before the investor meeting. Don’t argue with me on this.

Are you serious? Nathan gritted, fury giving him energy. A bloody billion-dollar deal and you want me to go hands-off? I’ve worked my ass off to bring Astreca this far. There’s no damn way I’m sitting back now.

Nathan, listen. We don’t know the full extent of your injuries. I can’t risk you keeling over in a coma or worse from the stress. It’s just a week. I’d be happier knowing you’re okay.

Damn it, Andy. Astreca is gold right now, and those investors know it. They’d be fools to say anything other than ‘yes’. I’d be more stressed lying here, blind, for a week.

It’s more than that. Andy paused. I’ve kept this accident out of the news so far. This is a private hospital and they’re discreet. Do you have any idea what it’ll do for investor confidence if they get wind of this? It’s bloody hard enough with the media snooping around you the way they do.

Nathan scowled. I’m fine.

No, you’re not. Not until a qualified doctor tells me so.

"Get me back to London, and I’ll get regular check-ups from a discreet doctor there."

That you will, but not in London.

Nathan glared through closed eyes and thick bandaging. Andy must have felt it because he cleared his throat uncertainly before speaking. Look, you’re too bloody high-profile right now. Even in a hotel out in the middle of nowhere, someone will recognize you and hype things up like no man’s business. We can’t risk spooking those investors.

Why the hell do I need a hotel room? I’ve a whole damn penthouse in London. It’s just me and Mrs Douglas there, and she’s been with me too long to go sneaking the story to the press. I’ll work from home for a few days.

The doctors won’t discharge you unless I guarantee around the clock supervision. Mrs Douglas dropping by in the mornings to cook and clean for you doesn’t qualify.

For God’s sake! Hire a nurse and have her sign a non-disclosure or something.

Andy snorted. I’m not even entertaining that. Look, the most I’d risk is having you stay with Jasmine and me, but I don’t think a baby crying through the night will help you. Besides, it won’t look great if both of us get to the investor meeting sleep-deprived and smelling of nappies.

Nathan gritted his teeth. He’d been painted into a corner, but he should have expected that with a logistics whizz like Andy. No doubt the pieces were already in place. All right. Get to it. What have you set up?

Well, I needed something ready or the doctors would have kept you here. So I… er… I spoke to Cathy… your step-mum. You can stay with them.

The hell I will! Nathan jerked to sit up, but pain seared his head, and he fell back on the pillow with a groan.

Andy’s chair scraped. You okay? His hands were on Nathan’s shoulders.

No! And I’m not going to Yorkshire, so you can forget that.

Andy released him, and the chair creaked as he sat down again. Nathan, think about it. It’s perfect. Your excuse is you’re visiting family, and there’ll be someone to look after you. Someone you can trust.

Someone he could trust? Anger burned in Nathan. Andy knew parts of his history, but no one knew the demons that consumed him, and to return to Cathy’s house…

Aurora. Her image rose in his mind: her hair a carefree cloud of ink-black curls that bounced around her elfin features, bright shamrock-green eyes that twinkled when she laughed. He hadn’t seen her in four years, hadn’t wanted to, but his hands still remembered the press of her slim curves, his lips the feathery softness of hers. 

He clenched his jaw. Stay in the same house as Aurora? Fuck, no. He’d buried that past long before his father had died, and it was staying buried. Call Oksana, he snapped. She’ll be more than willing to spend her days and nights with me.

But you guys broke up two weeks ago, and she’s in Los Angeles now. You know there’s only one reason she’ll come running back.

Andy was right. That on-and-off relationship had ended when after a year he’d still refused to put a ring on Oksana’s finger, a commitment one step too far for him. Hell, he’d even been careful never to spend a whole night at her place. But compared to Aurora, Oksana was a safer bet. She was a situation he could control. 

Oksana’s been trying to get you up the aisle for a while now, Andy said. Don’t go crazy and land yourself in something you’ll regret. Look, I know you and Cathy haven’t spoken since your dad died, but she was worried about you when I called. This might be a good thing…

Nathan frowned. 

I’m not trying to play family shrink or anything, Andy blurted. But it’s the best solution we have. You know it.

Aurora… The memory refused to leave Nathan’s mind. She’d been eighteen the last time he’d seen her. Eighteen and flaunting her ripe, almost naked body before a horde of hungry male eyes, just like she’d exhibited for him ever since she hit puberty. Did she get off on the attention? But he’d been careful to never fall victim. Sure there had been that one incident… but he’d got the hell out of there straightaway. 

And he was still running.

Damn. This craving for her hadn’t died. He’d only buried it over the years. But maybe it was time to free himself. They weren’t children any longer. She was twenty-two. He was twenty-eight. Maybe it was time to slake this thirst once and for all and move on.

Andy was still talking. …Yorkshire’s the last place people will expect to find you, and—

I’ll do it.

You’ll do it? Andy’s tone rose an octave in surprise.

One week. No more.

2

Mum, I’m home. Aurora grappled with the two bulging shopping bags and the set of keys in her hands, then kicked the front door of their townhouse closed behind her. She placed the heavy bags down on the hallway carpet, and relieved, threw the keys into her shoulder bag and dumped it beside the shopping. 

The February weather had been as unpredictable as ever, beaming sunshine in the morning, pouring buckets of rain in the evening. That wasn’t a surprise though. Langley being a nondescript little town in Yorkshire was more prone to excitable weather than other parts of England. The weather here had tantrums southerners in London escaped.

She shrugged off her rain-soaked blue coat and hung it up on the coat stand by the warm radiator. Then she ran sore fingers through her damp curls. The morning sunshine had fooled her, and she’d forgotten to take her umbrella when she went to work. And lugging bags from the supermarket back to her car in the evening had been like taking a fully-clothed shower.

Did you get everything, Aura? Her mother came out of the kitchen and stooped to examine the shopping bags, and her bob-cut blonde hair fell past her face like curtains. She hadn’t changed out of the drab grey work clothes she wore for her job as an administrator at the local school, and tired lines showed around her almond-brown eyes. 

Everything you wanted, Aura said, straightening her yellow sweater over her jeans. Though I was surprised to find it all, to be honest. Six o’clock rush on a Friday, and the supermarket shelves were emptying like it’s the day before the apocalypse.

Mum laughed. People are happy to see the weekend, that’s all. She straightened, hefting a bag in each hand.

Here, those are heavy. Aura stepped forward and took the bags from her shorter mother. I’ll bring them into the kitchen. 

Thanks, love. And how was your day?

I finished that vintage wedding gown, Aura said, leading the way to the kitchen. It’s a pity I won’t see the final fitting tomorrow, but Mrs Harrison has promised to send me photos.

It had taken her the entire day, and the delicate hand-sewing involved had left her fingers stiff and aching, but the results had been worth it. She didn’t often get to work with authentic 1930s silk and lace. At least she had the next few days off for her fingers to recover since she only worked at Harrison’s tailoring studio three days a week. She’d just have to take it slow with her personal client projects in the meantime. 

Mum grinned. A job well done deserves a warm stew, is what I say. She indicated the stove where a casserole dish of beef chilli was cooking. 

Aura placed the bags on the pine kitchen table, sniffed in the hearty scent, and forgot the cold greyness outside she’d clambered in from. The kitchen was warmer than the hallway with the golden pine shelves and cupboards adding to the cosy feel, and the cream marble floor reflected the overhead lights. 

They’d had the kitchen enlarged when her stepdad Ralph had been alive. Now a six-seater pine table and its chairs took up half of the bright and welcoming kitchen-diner. Ralph had converted the tiny old dining room next door into a sewing room for Aura. It was her space where she could design and create her dresses.

You got the wine too. Mum, in the middle of emptying the shopping bags, held up the bottle of expensive red wine with a smile.

Aura cocked her head to the side and regarded her. More food than they usually bought covered the table, and the only time the two of them drank wine was for a birthday or Christmas. Mum had phoned her with the last-minute shopping list just as Aura had finished work. Why all this food and the wine, Mum? You’re not planning a party before you jet off on Sunday, are you?

Mum had won a five-day Valentine’s break to Hawaii in her school Christmas raffle, and she’d chosen to go with her colleague Dianne after Aura had turned her down. But Aura had her reasons. Mum was forty-seven, slim, petite, and attractive. Her happy eyes had dimmed when her husband Ralph died two years ago, and the spark had glimmered back to life only recently. Aura hoped deep in her heart this trip would see Mum find love again, and she wasn’t about to bring in any awkwardness by tagging along. 

I need to make sure you have enough to eat. Mum went back to pulling items from the bags.

For goodness’ sake, I won’t starve. I’m twenty-two, not two. I know how to shop and cook. Aura helped her mother put vegetables in the tall fridge. You’re not planning on spending your time in Hawaii worrying about me, are you? 

About Hawaii… Mum glanced at her, looking uncomfortable.