TWENTY SEVEN

We look at the photo of us kissing outside the art gallery, locked in each other's arms. I'm kicking myself because I should've known better. A major exhibition like Shanelle's would undoubtedly attract a large number of journalists. I'm usually very careful to avoid the paparazzi, but I wasn't as careful last night.

The photographer used a wide-angle lens and made sure they were hidden from view. This type of invasion of privacy is one of the primary reasons I avoid such public places. It's also why I prefer tinted windows in my cars, because these photographers have no boundaries. My personal life should not be open to public scrutiny over a cup of coffee and eggs in the morning.

Amelia's early morning call about the photo, combined with the fact that the office phones had been ringing nonstop, made me sick to my stomach. The paparazzi give me a headache and are a major pain in the arse. The last thing I need right now is a slew of questions directed at me, or, worse, rumors spreading about what people believe is going on.

"I'm so sorry," I apologize. "I'm usually better at avoiding the cameras, and I'm sorry I've put you in the middle of this." Going to that art gallery was a huge blunder on my part."

I run my fingers through my hair, trying to come up with ways to apply damage control before things get out of hand. I've had photos go viral before, but usually I have enough time to get ahead of the story and pay off the necessary people before things get too bad, but this time social media beat me to it.

Aliyah walks over to the desk and sits on the edge, exposing a bit of thigh as she crosses her legs. “Is it really that bad? ” she asks, leaning in closer to me.

I take a deep breath and proceed to navigate through the various tabs I have open. We are front page news on several different media outlets and there’s innumerable tweets and private messages.

"Billionaire bachelor caught kissing mystery blonde," she says, reading the headline from the previous tabloid.

What will people think once they figure out who she is? I honestly don't know what to think. Disgusted, I turn off the computer and bury my face in my hands. This is strike number two. If the secret I need to tell her doesn't scare her away, the media harassing her will.

We have yet to define our relationship. We never said we were serious, but she's all I can think about right now. I want to shield her or, at the very least, retaliate against the photographers for invading our privacy.

"Are you upset that we were photographed together?" " she inquires.

"No," I respond quickly. "Well, to be honest, yes and no. You are aware that I prefer to keep my personal life private. I'm not embarrassed or ashamed to be seen out with you. It's just... I know how the media can be, and I don't want you to be subjected to it. People will start taking photos you everywhere as soon as they figure out who you are, trying to get a glance into your life, and I don't want people who follow you around and harassing you."

I never gave it much thought before, but Aliyah is more than just a pretty face. She's more than just a nanny with a fiery personality. Aliyah is mine, and I will do everything in my power to protect her.

"If you're okay with it," she says, gently placing her hand on my shoulder. "I understand your desire to keep this private. In fact, I haven't told anyone that we've been seeing each other. Of course, I don't want to be the talk of the town, but if I have to, I'm glad I can do it with you. I can take whatever they throw at me. I'm hoping they don't figure out who I am too quickly. I don't want to be followed around, especially when I'm out with Andrew. "Jonas and Romina would assassinate me."

I grab her hand and pull her into my lap. "I'm so sorry," I say as I kiss her on the cheek.

Not only am I sorry for putting her in such an awkward position, but I'm also sorry that I even considered how this photo might affect my image.

So what if they discover her identity and that she works as a nanny? The only thing that matters is that she is mine.

Aliyah gets to her feet and climbs into my lap. I was so preoccupied by the phone call this morning that I skipped getting dressed and instead wore my black Versace robe.

"Don't apologize, Jordan," she says. "Regardless of how much we went out, it was bound to happen sooner or later."

I realize she's correct, but I was hoping for something like this to happen much later, if at all.

"Are you sure you're okay with it?" She inquires, her hand slipping beneath the robe. She encloses her fingers around my dick and strokes up and down incredibly slowly. "I'd hate to think it frightened you."I groan softly and try to concentrate. "Well, I'm a little stressed, but I think I'll be fine if you keep doing what you're doing."

She lifts her head and slids my length into her dripping wet folds. "Will you continue to do this?" "Are you certain this is beneficial?" " she inquires, swiping her tongue across my earlobe.

"Yes," I say, my voice a long, hissing hiss.

Aliyah smiles and pulls a condom from her robe pocket; I reach out to take it, but she clutches it to her chest. She slowly unwraps it and rolls it over my hardness as I nod. She even makes putting on a condom a sexual experience. She cradles my dick and slips it inside her, her body welcoming me in with a warm wet hug. She wraps her arms around my neck and bounces up and down slowly.

"I think we both need some stress relief in the morning," she says, tossing her hair behind her back.

"Mm-hmm," I say, not expecting to be able to speak coherently.Her body perfectly conforms to the curve of my dick, as if she were custom-made for me. I can't imagine another woman capturing and keeping my attention as well as Aliyah. Her beauty, intellect, and sincerity have rendered me speechless on numerous occasions.

I guide her hips and thrust upwards in hard wet smacks to meet her body. All doubts I had about the photograph, my image, and our invasion of privacy quickly vanished. Aliyah runs her fingers through my hair as I notice a familiar tingle in my toes. This time, there will be no holding back. Last night, I used up all of my concentration and self-control.

Her walls tighten around my rod as she moves her hips in tiny circles, one after the other. It's not long before my hip thrusts stop keeping up with the steady drum-like rhythm as the orgasm sends my entire body into spasms. Aliyah bounces up and down for a few more seconds before her own orgasm takes over.

We sit still for a few moments, only our heavy breathing breaking the silence, as I twitch inside her warmth. My blood slowly returns to the rest of my body, and the fog in my head dissipates.

"Are you feeling better now?" she inquires, her arms still wrapped around me as she leans back against the desk.

I try to concentrate on what she's saying, but all I see are her breasts and the picture-perfect way the sunlight hits her face. Now this is a picture-perfect moment.

"I think we both need some stress relief in the morning," she says, tossing her hair behind her back.

"Mm-hmm," I say, not expecting to be able to speak coherently.

I gently raise Aliyah and assist her to her feet. She reaches for my waist and re-ties my robe around me.

"If this is how you act before breakfast, I'd hate to see you after your stomach is full and you have a fresh burst of energy."

She takes my hand in hers and leads me out of my office and up the corridor to the kitchen.

"Alright, let's go get some food so I can demonstrate you how much energy I really have," she says."I'm sorry to bring it up again, but are you sure you're okay with the photo being taken?" I inquire, hesitantly.

"Yes," she confirms as she runs her fingers through her hair. "I'm sure there's nothing you can do about it now," I said. "I'm sure Jonas and Romina will be annoyed by the extra attention, especially when people figure out who I am." They made it clear when they hired me that they preferred to continue Andrew out of the limelight."

I know exactly how private they are, given all of the information blacked out on Aliyah's background check, but I can't bring it up.

"I don't want to endanger your job or anything, so I'll do damage control to keep your name hidden for a little while longer." You're right; there's not much I can do about the photo right now, but I have some contacts who can keep your identity out of the news for the time being."

Aliyah walks over to the cabinets and begins removing the few cooking supplies I have in the bare kitchen. "That sounds like a plan, and in the meantime, I'll just keep the photo hidden from Romina and Jonas unless they ask about it." "Enough of that, let's go get some breakfast."