Now, Please (9 page)

F
iltered sunlight sprinkled
down onto the bed as I slowly came to consciousness. I rolled to my back and stretched, greeted by a glorious ache in a very private area. Hunter walked from the bathroom in gray slacks and an open button-up shirt. His hair was wet and a toothbrush hung from his mouth.

“Honeymoon’s over, huh?” I asked with a laugh, propping myself onto an elbow.

“What?” he asked around the plastic.

“Nothing. Tired of jeans?”

He glanced down and then refocused on me. “You’re beautiful, and yes. I can stop pretending to be young and hip.”

“You are young and hip.”

“Just young.” He winked at me, easier and more relaxed than I’d ever seen him.

He leaned over his computer that stood open on the desk, reaching forward to type something before he closed the top and unplugged it. He scrubbed at his teeth a little more before disappearing into the bathroom. When he came out he said, “I want to put on my professional face today.”

“So, what’s the agenda?”

He packed his computer into its bag. “I have a meeting with Bruce to plan out some next steps, and then we’ll be traveling back to San Francisco at about noon. You have the morning to pack.”

I didn’t mention that I’d never really unpacked.

“What about you?” I glanced at his suitcase in the corner and saw an empty suitcase stand. By the door his luggage waited, closed and ready to go. “Oh. You’re ahead of me. What time did you get up?”

“I generally get up early,” he said, running his fingers through his hair before smoothing it down with a brush and some product. He dropped those last items into the garbage. Apparently he’d rather buy new toiletries than pack them.

I pushed the blankets aside and threw my legs over the side of the bed, looking for my discarded T-shirt. I took the few steps to pick it up and throw my head into it. When I glanced over, Hunter stood transfixed, staring at me with lust-filled eyes.

“Like YMCA, do you?” I put my arms through the holes. “I have hundreds of dollars of lingerie, and you’re crazy for my raggedy old shirt.”

Hunter grinned as he sauntered toward me. “I’ve never seen a girl dressed down. Last night there was an honest quality to your messy hair, your shirt, and your sleepy smile that…made me want that.”

When he reached me, his intense eyes delved into mine as his thumb traced my lips.

“Want what?” I asked in a whisper.

He kissed me lightly, his lips lingering. “Want a woman who doesn’t try so hard. Who’s comfortable in a big T-shirt and without makeup. Who will smile at me the moment she wakes up because she’s happy to see me, instead of being happy to see my money or position. I want the normalcy you take for granted.”

He ran his lips over mine again. Heat unfurled in me, a warmth that wasn’t just sexual. One that was a lot more permanent. His hands felt up my stomach, under my shirt, before cupping my breasts. His kiss deepened as he pushed me backward. My back bumped the wall as his thumbs rubbed across my sensitive nipples.

“Hmmm,” I moaned into his mouth.

Suddenly I needed him so bad I couldn’t think straight. With shaking hands I fumbled with his pants, ripping open his fly and reaching inside to capture that velvety-smooth skin. I pushed his pants down as I ran my palm along his manhood.

His hand reached between my legs, fingers running along my slit. His other hand ran along the back of my leg to my knee before pulling upward. He hooked my thigh around his middle as he leaned in, his tip sliding along my wetness.

He lightly sucked my bottom lip as his erection probed me, sliding to my opening. With one shove, his girth filled me, a momentary burst of pain making me wince as he rubbed my soreness.

“Are you okay?” he asked against my lips.

I didn’t bother answering. I threw my arms around his shoulders and swung my other leg upward. Clutching his middle with my thighs, I rocked into him. Soreness turned to exquisite pain, spreading in my body languidly. Gyrating my hips, I started a fast pace, which he met without hesitation.

His hard body pushed me into the harder wall. His length seared into me. His hips slammed against me as pain fell away, to reveal only unyielding pleasure.

I clutched his muscular shoulders as my body turned into liquid magma. I was close and we had only just started.

Luckily, so was he. “I need to come,” he said in a moan as his body worked in deep, hard thrusts.

“Yes…” I matched his movement with rocking hips. Everything tightened. I held my breath in the moment before I exploded in a cry of delight. “Holy hell!” The
thunk
of my head hitting the wall competed with our mingled panting.

I let my limbs go limp.

Hunter grunted, having to shift so as not to drop me. I chuckled but didn’t help.

He helped me straighten up and looked down into my eyes. “I want to take you home and make out.”

I probably shouldn’t have laughed, because he was absolutely serious, but…I couldn’t help it. “Like high school.”

“I didn’t go to high school. I missed out on some things.”

“Then making out sounds great.” I ran my hands up his chest. “We could start now, even.”

His smile stole my breath as he turned away. “Later. Business first. Play later.”

By the time he’d crossed the room, the smile had already been wiped away. He picked up his computer and headed for the door. “Pack up. I’ll meet you back here.”

“Okay. I’ll probably go work on Bruce’s notes at the lagoon area, so if you get done early, that’s where I’ll be.”

He gave a brief nod before leaving the room.

“Okay…
goodbye
.” I rolled my eyes. He might be a big-time CEO with oodles of money, but he was still a work in progress. I would definitely teach that kid manners.

Smiling like an idiot, I headed back to my room to get ready. What I was doing with Hunter might be incredibly stupid, but I didn’t care. It felt good.
I
felt good.
Repercussions be damned.

A
t about ten
thirty I wandered into the lagoon area. I lowered myself onto a table and hauled out my computer. After signing in, I clicked out of instant message and didn’t bother opening email. Hunter had given me a pass, and I planned to use it. I’d been thinking about Bruce’s notes, and his goals, and had come up with a list of things that might be cool. I bent to my work and shut out the world.

It was because of the extreme focus, however, that I missed the person entering my oasis of solitude. I didn’t notice the presence until the table shifted and creaked as someone sat opposite me. Forced out of my concentration, I glanced up in irritation. And then froze.

Rodge sat with his hands clasped in front of him, staring at me with hard, cunning eyes. “You’ve become quite a nuisance to me.”

Feigning indifference, I glanced back at my computer screen. “I’m just doing my job.”

“So it would seem.” The top of my laptop slammed down. Rodge’s fingers splayed across the top, white from the pressure. I looked up, startled. “My son gives a command, and you tear off your panties to please him. I should’ve expected a lowborn
peasant
to adopt tunnel vision for her rich boss. I underestimated your drive to please your betters.”

“Peasant? Betters? Did you just fall out of 1890 and crack your head? Get off my laptop.”

Rodge stood slowly, his hand still on my computer. He walked around the table with predatory steps before sitting right next to me. I scooted away to allow more room, but he just leaned in. His breath, smelling of stale coffee, blasted my face as he said, “I wonder. If I fucked you just right, would you do my bidding as well as you do his? What do you think, Olivia?”

Chest tight, breath coming in horrified puffs, I stood in a rush. “I need my computer, please.” I snatched my computer bag off the table and held it in front of me. It was a terrible shield for a man of Rodge’s size, but it was something.

He stood, too. His body cut off my view of my computer. “What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll like it too much?”

Rodge stepped toward me and grabbed a fistful of my hair. Before I could struggle, he yanked me closer. His lips smashed into mine.

My brain fumbled, deciding between stomping on his foot and kneeing him in the nuts. Without warning, his body was ripped away from mine. My head jerked before he let go. I staggered and fell, only then seeing another pair of feet.

I looked up. A sob of relief took me as Hunter stepped between his dad and me. His fist whipped out, clipping his dad on the chin and sending him to the ground.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Hunter demanded, his body flexed and fists balled.

Rodge turned onto his side and grabbed his jaw. He shook his head. “You always did like the ordinary ones, didn’t you? Always trying to shrug off your wealth and status to go chasing the gutter rats. And now I know why. They work like slaves. Kudos, son. Looks like I’ll have to get a gutter rat of my own.”

“Always trying to be someone different than you,” Hunter spat. He turned toward me and looked down for a moment before his mask of rage melted into guilt. He bent to me and picked me up out of the dirt. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” I wiped off my jeans as tears rolled down my face. I clutched Hunter, my hands shaking. “He scared me, is all. I just didn’t react in time.”

Hunter threw his dad a look of pure loathing before leading me to the table to help me collect my computer. With his hand around my shoulder, he turned us toward the path to the golf cart.

“Dating below your class is suicide,” Rodge warned in a loud voice. “She’ll drag you down and make a fool of you. I should know—I was with your mother for sixteen years. You’ll see it my way before this is through. Trust me.”

Hunter didn’t say anything as he helped me into the vehicle and we drove back to our building in silence. It wasn’t until we were headed to our rooms that he said, “I thought it was consensual at first.” His voice was low, dripping with emotion. He leaned against the doorframe with a lowered head. “I walked into the area and all I saw was you kissing him. I…” His jaw clenched and he straightened up. He shook his head and looked away. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Obviously I wouldn’t,” I said in a small voice.

Hunter turned toward his room. “Not with him, maybe, but you’re free outside of your time with me.” He shook his head again and let himself into his room without another word. I stood, lost for words, as the door shut behind him. The hard
clank
echoed down the hallway.

In a daze, unsure of what had just happened, I entered my room. The clock read nearly twelve. My suitcases were all packed and ready to go, and I stepped forward to go into Hunter’s room and check in with the next steps. Before I got there, though, the door to Hunter’s room swung closed. He’d locked himself away from me.

Not really believing it, I stared for a minute at that white surface. His words rang through my memory again.
You are free outside of your time with me.

I sat on my bed, processing.

Apparently he thought I was the kind of girl he usually employed. I’d do him in the afternoon, and head home to someone else. Why stop at one guy—I could have a couple. Hell, I could have a whole swarm of guys ready to drop trow when I got horny. Three, four—why not a whole football team?

I stood in a rush of anger. A moment later, hardly in control, I banged on the connecting door with a closed fist. The whole floor probably heard it, but I didn’t care. This was bullshit. I was tired of being dicked around by this guy.

The latch sounded before revealing his face, perfectly composed. His business mask was on; he was trying to close himself off from emotion.

I had enough emotion for the both of us.

“I’m sick of this, Hunter. I get that you have issues. I do. But guess what? We
all
have issues. We all have crap that went wrong. You can’t use that as a reason to sling shit at everyone else. You’re worried because you gave me
permission
to screw others. Well, guess what—screw
you
!
I’m not that kind of girl. You know I’m not. So what you are doing here, this scared little boy routine, is bullshit. It’s
bullshit.
And you’re an asshole!”

I was blubbering by the end. His expression hadn’t changed. He wore that same distant mask that he always did, trying to push me away. Again. Even after last night. After what he’d demanded I feel last night.

My heart felt like it was ripping in half. Angry tears rolled down my face.

I braced my hands on my hips. “That’s it, then? You’re freezing up on me?”

A knock sounded at his door. He glanced that way before looking back at me. I saw a glimmer of emotion in his eyes before his usual chill returned. “I’m sorry.”

Pain and anger mixed together into one explosive cocktail. “I cannot believe this. One thing goes wrong, you get scared, and that’s it? You are such a coward, Hunter. Plain and simple. Not noble, not smart, you’re a coward that hides behind his big office and wads of cash. You might be fooling yourself, but you’re not fooling me!” I turned away.

I ignored the agony eating away at my heart as I opened the door and carried my suitcase into the hall. I knew he felt something for me. After last night, there was no doubt. But if he wasn’t willing to accept it, then I couldn’t wait around like a fool. I had to learn my lesson sometime.

It was a quiet trip back to San Francisco. Silent tears leaked down my face, but I didn’t apologize. I worked on Bruce’s project and tried to shut off, like Hunter was doing.

It wasn’t until the limo pulled up to my apartment building that Hunter spoke. “I don’t blame you for my father,” he said softly. He looked out of his window. “But I can’t do this, Olivia. There’s a reason I’m shut off. I don’t do love. I can’t do romance. Or forever. I just…can’t. I’m sorry.”

“We aren’t doing romance. We are fucking, right? And I’m not asking for forever, Hunter.”

“We aren’t fucking, Olivia. Not anymore. Not after last night, and truthfully, not since the first time. It never would’ve been fucking with you.” Hunter clasped his hands in his lap and looked down at the floor between his feet. “I can’t repeat what we did last night. I can’t give that much. I don’t want to trust in that way.”