Exposing the Heiress (7 page)

Hot suspicion pulsed in her veins. “Has he threatened you?”

Maxine pulled her mouth tight. “He’s made a lot of threats, including one that he was going to tell you I came onto him if I didn’t quit. He wanted me gone. I had too much influence over you.”

It was true. Nate hated Maxine and tried a few times to find ways to get rid of her. “What happened?”

“I laughed in his face and told him to do it. Then you’d know what a lying piece of shit he was.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shook her head. “Nate would have spun it, told you it was a joke or something. You were figuring out that he’s an ass on your own. I could see it, especially in the last two months. You had enough people pushing you around, but no one is as awesome a friend as me.”

That made her smile. “And modest.”

Maxine waved that off. “Nate thinks he owns you. It’s freaking weird, and Parker just goes along with him. This is going to get ugly when Nate realizes he’s lost control of you. Stay away from here. You’re safer there with Hunt.”

Fifteen minutes later, she closed her computer and headed inside to put it away. Noise in the kitchen stopped her. Hunt was browning meat on the stove. “Oh, I didn’t know you were in here.” She’d thought he’d probably be out in his studio.

He glanced back over his shoulder. “Starting spaghetti for dinner.”

Hugging her computer, his words from two days ago flooded her brain.
If you ask me again, I won’t stop.
She wanted that with him, wanted it all since they’d made out on the cliffs two days ago. She wanted to see, feel, and experience him losing control like she had. Did he think about it? Or was it just her? “Do you think about it?” It came out before she could censor her words. That was another thing he did to her—with Hunt she could be honest and real.

He adjusted the heat on the stove, pivoted and moved up to her. “Think about what?”

He was so close she could feel the heat of his skin. “The cliffs. Finishing what we started.” It came out as a whisper.

Heat leaped into his eyes and he leaned closer. “The feel of you coming on my hand, the taste of your mouth and those moans you made live in my memory, keeping me hard and hungry for you. But I won’t push you for sex. You will only come to me if that’s what you want. What you need.” Tension snapped between them. “No one is going to use you again, baby girl.”

Her stomach flipped, then fluttered. How did he affect her so deeply? Make her want with a longing that she’d never experienced before?

He eased back a step. “Go put your computer away and get ready for dinner.”

Indecision held her to the floor for several heartbeats, but finally she did as he asked. Hunt wasn’t going anywhere and they could talk during dinner. Going into her room, her heart froze. There on the dresser was a sculpture. Hunt must have put it there. Her pulse zigzagged in a wild beat as she realized what he was doing, showing her a piece of his sculpture. Like she’d shown him her pictures.

She set the computer on the bed and went to the dresser with the wrought iron framed mirror. Lowering her gaze, she lost her breath. She carefully picked up the foot-high piece, lifting it to the afternoon light streaming through her window. Stunning and heartbreaking. A soldier forced to one knee by the weight of his rifle over his shoulder. The absolute weariness in the man, the heaviness of the rifle, symbolized the burden of responsibility and duty.

The image was so powerful and compelling she couldn’t get her breath. Gently, she turned it one way and another to examine every line and nuance. Finally, she studied the cold determination on his face. “He’s going to get up again. Keep doing his job.” She could see it in the set of the soldier’s jaw, the way he leaned forward, trying to bear the unbearable weight he carried.

Her eyes burned and her heart squeezed. This single piece screamed of a quiet battle raging within a man. Within Hunt. The piece was as beautiful as it was disturbing. Alyssa had no idea how long she stood in the slice of sunlight, studying the sculpture, absorbing every subtlety and meaning, her fingers tracking every line that Hunt’s fingers had shaped.

His story.

He’d shared that with her. Given her this part of himself that he hadn’t given to anyone else. All her uncertainty fled. Holding his statue, she spun and headed to the kitchen to find him stirring spaghetti into a pot of bubbling water. Next to that was the pan of sauce he’d started when she came in from the terrace. It was the sight of his suddenly tense shoulders that pinged her chest.

He knew she’d returned. Slowly he finished his task, then faced her with distant, cautious eyes.

She carefully set the sculpture on the island. It was an effort to let go of it. Once she had, though, she rushed to him and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him.

“Whoa.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her to his face.

“Thank you. You showed me a part of you, a piece of what you keep locked up. It means everything to me. That sculpture is powerful. I can’t decide if I love it or hate it, but if I had the chance, I’d buy it to have forever. It’s a part of who you are.”

“It took me two days to choose the right piece.” Hunt stroked his fingers along her hairline. “It’s yours if you want it.”

“You’re giving it to me?”

“I want you to have something of me. Something I wouldn’t give anyone else.” He kept touching her, one arm around her waist, holding her off the ground, the other stroking her face.

“I’ve decided how I feel. I love it because it’s your truth, your story. Thank you.”

A smile chased out the hard lines and lingering shadows as he set her on her feet. “I did it for me. I need you to know me, to understand what I am and still not be scared of me.” His eyes heated and he skimmed his knuckles down her cheek.

“I’m not scared.” Instead, despite seeing the quiet agony Hunt carried in his sculpture, there was something uplifting and empowering about this man’s trust. He’d shown no one else—not even his parents or Erin. “One second.” Alyssa picked up the sculpture.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m putting this in my room.” She quickly put it by her bed, and then returned.

He arched a brow. “Afraid I’ll change my mind?”

She grinned at him. “No, I want your full attention on me when I say this.” She didn’t want him looking at that statue and thinking that he was not good enough to touch her.

“That right?”

She took a breath. “You wanted me to wait a day or two, and I have. So here it is. This right now? It’s an escape, a moment in time where I’m out of the media spotlight and I can do this for me. Be selfish.” She put her hand on his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat through his T-shirt. “I’m asking you to kiss me.”

Hunt turned, his back rippling as he clicked off the gas flame beneath the noodles and sauce. When he faced her again, all the doubt had left his face.

The change was so sudden, she asked, “What are you doing?”

He stalked toward her, intensity burning in his eyes. “What did I say would happen if you asked me to kiss you again?”

Her mouth dried, her pulse danced a sensual beat. She reached out, slapping her hand down on the counter. In seconds, he’d turned this on her. She thought she was the aggressor, but he took control. And she liked it. “You won’t stop at a kiss.”

A wolfish grin spread over his face. “You sure you’re ready?” He caught her arms, pulling her against all six feet of hard, warm male. “I’ve been controlling myself every damned second.”

He held her easily, giving her a glimpse of his need. His breath feathered over her face.

“If you say yes, then you’re giving yourself to me right here, right now. For this moment in time, you’re mine.”

Excitement buzzed in her veins. If she said the word, he’d unleash the power he’d been holding back. No fear, just them. “Yes.”

Hunt scooped her up, crossed a few steps, and set her on the barstool. “God, I’ve ached to kiss you again.” Sinking his fingers into her hair, he tilted her head and brushed his lips over hers. Then he plunged in, his tongue demanding entrance.

Latching onto his shoulders, she kissed him back, tangling her tongue with his. Alyssa lost herself to the sensation of Hunt owning her mouth. Her lips throbbed in time with her wild pulse. Nothing had ever felt like this. So real and raw, an agonizing want burning between them.

Spreading his hand over her lower back, he wedged between her thighs and tugged her into the hard ridge of his erection. He dragged his mouth along her jaw and down her throat, making her shiver. In just minutes, she burned. Needed. His lips scorched a trail to her shoulder. Desire heated her belly. He was giving her what she wanted, craved. “Wait.”

Lifting his head, he locked stare on her. “Second thoughts?”

Softening his hold on her lower back, he stroked her skin as if soothing her. That action swelled her heart and desire. Hunt had made her come at the cliffs and now he was rock hard for her, and if she said no…he’d stop. That made her want him more. “No.” She pushed his shirt up. “I want to touch you.” She ran her hands over the ridges of his stomach, feeling his muscles jerk. “Please.”

Reaching over his head, he grabbed a handful of his shirt, yanked it off, and tossed it on the counter.

She ran her gaze over his incredible inked shoulders and chest, catching sight of a bullet tattoo over his heart. Odd. She’d ask later. Right now, she molded her hands over the thickness of his shoulders, absorbing and memorizing the feel of him. Tracing the warm skin of his chest, and wrapping her hands around the bands of muscle on the sides of his abs then back to the front to that thin trail of hair leading down.

His muscles undulated and he hissed in sharply.

She glanced up. Color bloomed in his face, and his eyes burned. She undid the button on his shorts, eased down his zipper. His massive erection sprang out, long and thick. Alyssa traced the darker colored head, entranced by the soft feel. Wrapping her fingers around him, she pushed down his hard length.

Hunt shuddered, his thighs and abs visually rippling.

A hot sense of power roared in her ears. Her touch did this to him. Experimenting, she stroked the sensitive tip with one palm while jacking him with her fingers.

Hunt slammed his palm down on the counter. Thrusting into her hand, he leaned toward her. “Kiss me.”

She looked up and he sealed his mouth over hers.

…

She was trying to kill him. Jesus, he loved it. Her hand on his cock drove him to the edge, but her mouth? The way she opened to him wet and hot ripped down his spine. More, he wanted more of her and sucked in her bottom lip, then thrust his tongue against hers, absorbing the taste of her. So damned perfect.

Instinctively, she matched his fierceness, stroking his cock harder, kissing him deeper, ripping away the last of his control. She stripped him raw. His orgasm hovered so close, he shuddered. Sheer will held it off.

Breaking the kiss, he eased her hand off his dick and swept her up in his arms. “Need a condom, they’re in my room.” His heart pounded and he struggled to breathe beneath the searing heat and anticipation. “Then it’s my turn. Your clothes are coming off, and I’m going to touch you, kiss you and drive my cock into you while looking into your eyes.” He swallowed a deep groan at just the thought of thrusting into her heat. He took a step, determined not to stumble. Lyssie trusted him for sex and to keep her safe. “I can’t wait. Have to—”

The front door banged open. “Where is she? Where is the runaway bride trending all over social media?”

“Fuck.” Hunt snarled. In the space of a second he set Lyssie down, zipped up his shorts, and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m going to kill my sister.”

Alyssa stared up at him with unfocused eyes. “Erin always did know how to make an entrance.”

Chapter Eight

Hunt couldn’t believe his sister showed up now. Why the hell had he ever given Erin the codes to his alarm system? His entire body and mind burned for Lyssie, craved her in a way that went beyond sex. When he touched her, the darkness inside him, the one that drove him to his studio to vent his nightmares, pulled back. He dragged in a breath of regret and stepped back from Lyssie just as his sister blew in like a summer storm, full of wild wheat curls and boundless energy.

Erin skidded to a stop in front of them with furious eyes. “How long have you two been together?” She turned to Alyssa on the barstool. “All these years, I don’t hear from you. Nothing. And now you’re sleeping with my brother?”

Alyssa cringed back. “Erin, no, it’s not like that.”

An icy wind blew over Hunt’s lust. “We’re not together.” Not like that. They weren’t in a relationship. This was an agreement, one where no one got hurt.

Lyssie stood. “I hired Hunt and his agency to help me with a problem.”

“Really?” Erin shoved her hand in her purse and pulled out her phone. “Because this picture on RevealPop doesn’t look like a working relationship to me.” She thumbed through her phone, then turned it toward them.

Lyssie stiffened at the mention of the tabloid journalism site. They both leaned in to see a full-color picture of Alyssa sitting on Hunt’s lap at the cliffs, the two of them locked in a searing, intimate kiss.

“Oh God.” She jerked back, wrapping her arms around herself in a protective gesture. “It wasn’t a gun you saw, it was a camera. I haven’t even announced my breakup with Nate yet.”

“Looks like social media did it for you,” Erin said. “Twitter has blown up with ‘runaway bride’ hashtags. And some that are less than flattering.”

All the color drained from Lyssie’s face. “Eli. Nate will hear about the picture. What if he does something else to him?”

Hunt caught her upper arms, cutting off her escalating panic. “Griff and his team are watching the boy 24/7. He’s safe. No one can get to him.”

She calmed, tugging her arms free. “All right, thank you.”

Before his eyes she deflated. This was his fault. He should never have kissed her out there. Hell, he’d done more than kiss her. Shit, there could be other, worse pictures out there. What the hell had he been thinking? It was his job to protect her, not expose her like this. She’d been trying to avoid media attention. “I’m sorry. I’m supposed to protect you and I let this happen.”

She shook her head. “I did it, I asked you to kiss me.” She turned to Erin. “I went to Hunt because I was desperate. I know it looks like I’m cheating on my fiancé with Hunt, but it’s not the case. I broke up with Nate, then went to Hunt because I was scared and needed help. This…” She gestured to the phone. “Just happened.”

Hunt couldn’t believe how everything had gone to shit in seconds. “Lyssie—”

“I need to make some calls.” She slipped between him and his sister, heading toward the hallway.

“Alyssa!” Erin called out.

She halted by the sofa and looked back.

The anger and frustration had drained from his sister. Now she appeared confused. “Who’s Eli?”

Hunt tensed, ready to tell Erin to back off.

Lyssie closed her eyes, then opened them. “He’s my son.” Then she was gone.

Hunt ran a hand over his face. “Goddamnit.” He snatched his phone out of his pocket and saw a dozen missed text messages and voicemails. He’d set it on vibrate earlier today after finally deciding which statue to show Lyssie.

He’d shared a part of his darkness with her and she’d still wanted him, trusted him, just like she’d trusted him at the cliffs, and he’d failed her.

Erin put her hand on his arm. “Alyssa has a son?”

He met his sister’s eyes. “She gave him up for adoption at birth. It wasn’t long after her mom died. Her ex is threatening her and the boy to force her to marry him. That’s why she ran to me for help.”

Erin’s face blanched. “Damn.”

“Yeah.”

She peered up at him. “You care about Alyssa.”

He gripped the edge of the counter and met his sister’s eyes. “I shouldn’t touch her. I’m too damaged.”

Erin popped her butt up on the counter and swung her legs. “Didn’t look like she was fighting you off in that picture. Or when I walked in tonight. I don’t even want to know why your shirt is balled up on the counter.”

Hunt glanced at his T-shirt, regret digging in. Lyssie was so damned giving and trusting, and he hadn’t protected her. It crawled up his spine, tightening his jaw. “She’s lonely.”

His sister snorted. “Yeah. The rich, beautiful heiress that rocks the cover of every magazine is so lonely that you’re her only choice for a hookup.” She glared at him. “I was her best friend, you think I don’t know she had it bad for you?”

Hunt crossed his arms. “I’ve changed.”

Worry shadowed her eyes. “Yeah, you have. You came home with scars, Hunt. We all know it.”

“I’m dealing with it.” That’s why he needed his studio. Art was the only way he could give voice to his nightmares.

She nodded. “So yeah, you changed, but one thing hasn’t.” Erin leaned closer. “You’re the one Alyssa ran to. After all these years, Hunt, it was you. It’s always been you.”

Stunned, he snapped upright. Erin had a point. When Lyssie had been truly scared and out of options, she had run to him.

“The question is, can you let go of your ghosts and grab on to your chance for something special? Or do you want to spend the rest of your life holed up in a locked room wishing you’d had the guts to try?”

…

“Some bastard took a picture of you in a private moment and sold it to a tabloid. Don’t you get sick of that crap? They should be arrested for sneaking around and invading your privacy.”

Alyssa had calmed down in the last couple hours. Hunt called Griff then handed Alyssa the phone. The man had assured her Eli and his family were fine, no problems. Then Erin had burst into her bedroom, and the next thing Alyssa knew, she was spilling her guts, telling Erin about her baby and what happened with Nate.

Now she was tired of talking about herself. The lighted pool shimmered in the soft night as she and Erin sat with their legs dangling in the warm water. “Um, speaking of invasions, you barged in tonight because you saw the picture.”

“That’s different. Hunt never changed the locks, and he gave me his alarm codes to keep an eye on the house when he’s not here.” She scrunched her nose and glared across the pool. “The only code he won’t give me is to the studio.”

“And you haven’t cracked it yet?”

“No, damn it.”

Erin was still the same, and God she had missed her.

“I can’t believe he gave you one of his sculptures. He hasn’t shown anyone.”

She leaned against Erin’s shoulder. “I’m safer. Hunt loves you guys too much. My opinion isn’t as important to him.”

“You’re wrong. He trusts you with this part of him that he can’t trust with us. That’s huge, Alyssa.”

Her stomach warmed at the idea that she might be able to help Hunt a little bit. That she’d leave him with something more than just memories of sex with her. Speaking of that, “You’re really not mad at me anymore for kissing Hunt?” They’d done more than kiss, but Erin didn’t need the details.

“I was hurt, not mad. You were my best friend, Alyssa, then you pushed us out of your life. And I get it now, well, as much as I can without having actually been through what you had.” She paused and added, “Don’t hurt Hunt. I know what Rachel did after that mall shooting.” Erin compressed her mouth. “She hurt my brother after he saved her and a lot of other people’s lives that day.”

“Why didn’t you kick her ass?”

“I would have, but I didn’t want her to go to the media and tell them Hunt’s name. I’m not sure how he managed to keep his identity quiet, but he never wanted that spotlight on him.”

Oh. Worry poured back into her. “Crap, that picture could bring the spotlight down on him.”

Erin’s shoulder bumped her. “Let’s not do this tonight. Hunt’s letting you in, and he gave you that sculpture. You’re reaching him when no one else could. You’re safe here from your asshole ex, and he can’t get to the kid either. We need to celebrate and have fun.” She lowered her eyes. “My bikini looks good on you. Hunt’s going to lose his mind when he sees you in that. Now let’s see if we can get him to let loose a little bit.”

More than ready for a break from the constant tension, she asked, “How?”

“Remember when we used to practice our dance moves out here?”

That made her grin. “Your mom danced with us too.”

“Hunt and my dad would pick us up and spin us around and around until we were dizzy.”

Alyssa climbed to her feet. “Or Hunt would
accidently
let go, tossing us in the pool.”

Erin turned on the music and grabbed Alyssa’s hand.

As the music flowed around them, along with the scent of grapes and pool water, her worries fell away.

…

Hunt damn near fell into the pool. He’d finished his phone call, making the arrangements for a surprise for Lyssie. After he changed into his board shorts, he came outside to music blasting. His gaze barely slid over his sister before locking onto Lyssie—her head thrown back, hair swinging as she danced with total abandon.

Stopping before he tumbled over the pool edge into the water, he got an eyeful of a criminally tiny bikini top barely covering her breasts. His mouth watered and his hands itched to mold and shape those small mounds, then draw that top down and expose her nipples. Would they be dark with tight little points?

She twisted around and light shimmered off the pale skin of her stomach with the gentle swell of her hips. His attention caught on her small heart tattoo with the tear center, the tail of the heart dipping into the wisp of black material masquerading as bikini bottoms. They barely covered her and were cut so high on her thighs it would just take a nudge of his fingers…

Or tongue…

Stop. Jesus.
He tried to close his eyes, but his lids weren’t cooperating. God he wanted her. Was desperate to be inside her, feeling her heat spasm around him as she lost control for him. And he’d be right there with her, coming hard enough to forget his own name. The need pounded deep in his spine.

Lyssie erupted in laughter, the rich sound rolling over his skin like a caress. Sensual fire burned in her as she let herself go…just danced. He fisted his hands to keep from yanking her against his body to feel every inch of her flaming beauty sliding against him. His blood thundered and his heart pounded with a blazing need to have her.

Not just her body, but the essence of her that burned away the ice caging him. There was such hope in her, the way she viewed the world with a rare optimism even though she’d been through dark shit. All he had to do was recall her pictures to know that view was her truth. Where Hunt saw potential ambushes and death, Lyssie saw hope and love.

She drew him like no one else ever had.

Another laugh rolled through him, torturing his cock and maybe his soul.

Hunt dragged in a gulp of air and ordered his body to stand down. Now. He’d trained to have absolute control.

His body gave him the finger as heat licked his nerve endings.

“There you are,” his sister yelled out. “Come dance with us.”

If he got within touching distance of Lyssie… Nope. “I’ll swim.” He dove into the pool and swam a few laps, trying to cool off. Finally he headed to the shallow end, braced his arms on the deck. “You two tire yourselves out yet?”

“Nope, but I’m thirsty.” Erin grabbed the two bottles of water.

Lyssie faced him and smirked. “We’re young, we don’t tire out like an old man.”

Erin laughed. “He turned thirty this year. Probably gets worn out just thinking about dancing.”

“Thirty!” Turning, she gave him a pitying look. “Will you need help getting out of the pool?”

With his hands on the deck, he leaped out of the water and started toward the troublemakers. “That’s three, princess.”

Lyssie’s eyes widened and she lowered the water bottle. “Three what?”

“Times you’ve smarted off. Lucky for you the pool’s nice and warm.” He stalked toward her.

She spun, slapped down her water bottle and launched into a run.

She was fast, her runner’s muscles rippling down her thighs and calves, but he was faster. Hunt sprang, catching her before she got to the house, and easily sweeping her up into his arms. Her warm skin pressed against his as he strode to the pool. “Do I feel old to you now?”

“Put me down!” Squirming and laughing at the same time, she tried to push against his chest.

He reached the edge of the pool and jumped in while holding her.

Erin followed them in to save Lyssie. Hunt laughed and tossed his sister across the pool. It was on. The two girls spent an hour trying to tackle him. When they tired, Hunt leaned back in the shallow end while the girls sat on the edge of the pool.

Erin blurted out, “Alyssa said she’d do a tribute video for Mom and Dad’s award dinner as a surprise from you and me.”

Hunt raised his eyebrows. “Lyssie’s doing all the work, and we’re taking the credit? Did you twist her arm?” Erin could be very persuasive.

“Actually, I offered. I’d love to do it if you don’t mind. I’ll need to get interviews with both of you.”

The pool lights reflected off her flushed skin and bright eyes, yet her fingers clutching the edge of the pool were white knuckled. As if she feared his answer. “It’s a great idea. They’ll be thrilled.”

He turned his attention to his sister. “Did you tell Lyssie about your show in New York?” He was so damned proud of his sister.

“New York?” Alyssa’s face flooded with happiness. “Oh my God, Erin, that’s huge! Tell me everything.”

Erin described the upcoming event and the pieces she planned to show, then ended with, “Will you come, Alyssa? You and Hunt can come together.”

“Oh, I’d love to.” Her uncertain gaze collided with his, then she jerked it away. “But I’ll come on my own. By then, my problems with Nate will be resolved and Hunt will move on to his next job.”

That brought him up short. Was that what she thought? She was just a job?
That’s what you told her. Oh sure you’re not letting her pay you, but you told her that you’d only screw her while you’re her bodyguard.