Free Billionaire's Blackmail Bride: Billionaire Brothers Kent - Ridge's Story (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) by Judy Angelo

the shots, just like he’d done when she’d turned to him in
desperation. It was a jolt of reality that knocked the ‘horny’ right out of
her. It was a reminder too stark, too strong for her to ignore. No matter how
much she pretended, Ridge was the one in charge.
    She pulled her hand from his grasp. “No.” She shook her head.
“That’s it. I don’t want to do this anymore.”
    Ridge pulled up short, his eyes filled with confusion. “What the
hell? You started this.”
    “I know,” she said, her voice terse. “And now I’m ending it.” She
stepped back, covering herself as she moved, then began to redo the bow that
held the top of her dress in place.
    “What? Why?” Ridge looked like he’d lost his bearings, like he
didn’t know if he was coming or going.
    Too bad. The way she was feeling right now she had no sympathy for
him. “I changed my mind,” she told him with a shrug then moved away and began
to stack the dirty dishes and bowls in the middle of the dining table.
    “What the f-”
    “Don’t you dare.” Lani fixed him with a glacial glare. “You don’t
need to sink so low.”
    “The hell I don’t. What kind of friggin’ game are you playing?
You’re trying to mess with my head?”
    Lani shrugged then lifted the stack of china. “Let’s just say,” she
murmured, “I can play games just as well as you.” Not waiting for an answer she
walked away, leaving him to stew in the sauce she’d served.
    In the refuge of the kitchen she dropped the dishes into the sink
and let out the breath she’d been holding. Thank goodness he hadn’t followed her.
He must be pissed as hell, with her leaving him high and dry like that.
    But she couldn’t help it. It was the memory of how she’d gotten here
in the first place that had been her undoing. She just couldn’t reconcile
herself to the fact that he’d been all-powerful and she, so powerless.
    And if the only way she could wield what little power she had was to
withhold sex, then so be it.
    The only sad thing about the whole affair was, in punishing him she
was darned well punishing herself, too. And Lani had no idea how long she could
hold out. 
    ***
     
     
    Not again. How could he have fallen for that again? Ridge slammed
his palms down on the bathroom counter and glared at his reflection in the
mirror.
    He was a friggin' idiot, that was what he was. How could he let her
play him like that? The woman was nothing but a little tease, a witch ready and
willing to yank his chain. Drive him crazy. Torment him with want and then walk
away. Damn!
    Ridged slapped his hands down again but what he really wanted to do
was drive his fists through the mirror. Pissed could not begin to describe what
he was feeling.
    That night, sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. He was so
wound up it wasn’t until the wee hours of morning that he finally drifted into
a fitful sleep. At the sound of a car engine he woke with a start and that was
when he realized it was morning and Lani was driving out, heading for work.
    It was a grumpy and groggy Ridge who showed up at the office that
morning. When he walked in he tried to fake a smile but his assistant could
read him like an open book.
    “You look terrible,” Miss Poole said, giving him a stern once-over.
“I would suggest you save the partying for the weekend.”
    Ridge just gave her a noncommittal grunt and kept walking until he’d
entered his office and closed the door behind him. In the privacy of the room
he relaxed his clenched teeth and gave way to a groan. He was exhausted and he
was in the same bad mood Lani had put him in the night before. It was only because
he had an important board meeting that afternoon that he’d even ventured out in
public. He was in no condition to mix and mingle with anyone. Not today.
    When Miss Poole buzzed to tell him it was time for his meeting he
put on his game face and headed off to the conference room. It wasn’t going to
be easy but like any professional worth