The Hunted (8 page)

“They were done by an interior designer.  Not really my taste - too clinical - but they serve their purpose.  This is the only room that I had any input in and, ironically, it is the room that I spend the least time in.  And when I am in here, I spend most of the time asleep.”

Hmmm.  Most of the time … yes, I can guess what you do in here when you are not asleep. 
I pictured his naked body pounding into some faceless female form and suddenly, I didn’t want to be here, in his bedroom.  The thought of him with another woman in his bed made me feel oddly nauseous. I pushed myself up into a sitting position and began to get up from the bed.  Before I could even stand up, Lucas was there, barring my way, a look of confusion on his face.

“Hey, we haven’t finished here, yet,” he said, playfully.

“Well, I think we have,” I countered, firmly.  I lifted my chin in defiance.

“I don’t understand,” he frowned.  “You seemed content for me to bring you in here and I thought it was clear what I had in mind.  What’s changed?”

I looked up into those brilliant blue eyes, that seemed to be silently pleading with me to stay, and had to fight the temptation to pull him down, on to the bed and forget about who else might have been here.  But I just couldn’t stomach the thought of being in his bed where he had seduced more than a few women.  I sighed, not able to find the right words.

“Issy, talk to me,” he pleaded.  “I mention that I chose everything in this room and the next second, you want out.  Is my taste really so bad that you can’t bear to be in here a minute longer?”

“No, of course not.  I told you, the room is gorgeous.  I love everything about it.  It’s just …”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.” 
I can’t tell him why - it’s too embarrassing.  I have no right … he has been with me in my bed and I’ve had my share of men in it.

He swiftly crouched down in front of me and looked me straight in the eye.  I tried to look away but his hand shot out and cupped my jaw, turning my head back to face him.  He leaned closer, his darkening eyes boring into mine almost menacingly.

“Issy, if it’s anything that comes in between us, then it isn’t nothing.  Now, tell me.”

I closed my eyes, unable to hold his gaze and knowing that he wouldn’t let me look away. 

“Well … when you …”

I felt his thumb gently stroking my embarrassed cheeks.  “Yes?  You can tell me, Issy.  You can tell me anything.”

I took a deep breath and kept my eyes closed.  “When you said that you spent most of your time in here sleeping, I couldn’t help but think of what you had done in this bed when you weren’t sleeping.”

“And what conclusions did you reach?” His voice had an edge to it.  I knew that he wasn’t pleased by my admission.

“Look, I know that I have no right, and I know it makes no sense but I just couldn’t face being with you, here, knowing that there have been many others that ...”

“You’re damn right, it makes no sense!  If you are insinuating that I have had my wicked way with scores of women in this bed, then you are very much mistaken.  I have never brought a woman up to my apartment, never mind to my bedroom.”

My eyes flicked open in surprise.  “Never?”

“Never.  You are the first, and that’s only because you threw yourself at my feet!”

“I did no such thing!” I cried, indignantly.

“Well, no. Technically, you threw yourself away from me but that’s just splitting hairs.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed. 
Wow! He hasn’t brought any women here.  Well, I am only here because I was injured.  He is simply taking the opportunity that has presented itself. 

As I pondered how I felt about that, Lucas leaned forward and rested his forehead against mine.  “Oh Issy.  Why must you complicate everything?”

“I‘m not complicating anything!  And before I met you, I had a very uncomplicated relationship with members of the opposite sex,” I whispered.

He pulled back and looked me in the eye.  “You said that you didn’t have relationships with the opposite sex.  You only had one night stands!”

I held his gaze.  “Exactly - that’s why it was uncomplicated!  You’re the one who is trying to complicate things.”  Something was skirting at the edge of my memory but I still couldn’t grasp it.

He sighed and then took my hands in his.  “Believe me, Issy, I’ve tried not to.  I have tried to put all thoughts of you from my mind.  To pretend that we haven’t shared one incredible night.  To tell myself that I would be happy without you in my life.  But I can’t fool myself and, to be honest, I don’t want to anymore.  There is something between us whether we like it or not.”

“We can’t deny that there is sexual chemistry between us.  Desires that we both thought would be exorcised when we spent the night together but-”

“But they weren’t and I don’t think that we could exorcise them, no matter how hard we tried.  I have never responded to a woman in the way that I do to you.  I have never wanted anyone as much and …”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“And?”

“I’ve never needed anyone before.  Not for anything - ever!”  He spoke softly and turned away as he spoke.

I gasped.  “What?  You think you need me?”

He swung back around to face me.  His eyes sought mine and I was shocked to see pain in his expression.  Mr Control Freak had gone again, replaced by Mr Uncomfortably Vulnerable.  His usually hooded eyes burned into mine conveying his inner torment and I knew then that he did actually think that he needed me.  When he spoke, his voice was laced with emotion.

“No, Issy.  I know that I need you.  I can’t stop thinking about you.  I can’t concentrate.  I can’t sleep.  Watching you run from me … I felt helpless ...  and for the first time in my life, I felt total despair.  This just isn’t like me, Issy. I have avoided relationships because I like total control of all things in my life.  But now, I find myself wanting a relationship with you more than anything in my life.  And I find that I have no control over my feelings for you and, of course, I have no control over your feelings for me.” 

Without warning, I felt an almost overwhelming desire to comfort him.  To throw my arms around him and tell him that everything would be okay.  Where was the powerful alpha male who oozed confidence and sexuality? 
Wait – this is what happened a few minutes ago … he shows his vulnerable side, says he feels miserable and you want to make it all better!

He looked at me closely, as if trying to figure out what I was thinking.  “Issy, believe me – I didn’t plan any of this.  I’ve told myself over and over to keep my distance, that it will only end in disaster but I can’t help myself.  Isn’t it ironic that the one woman that I am willing to break all of my rules for, and let into my life, doesn’t want the slightest to do with me?  Is your heart really made of stone?  You bring me to my knees and you don’t bat an eyelid.  I laid my heart out for you and you stamped all over it and walked away without a care.”

“That’s not fair.  I thought we had laid out the ground rules for that night.  If I had seen that coming, I would have kept my distance but remember, you did all the running.  And I took no pleasure in seeing you like that.  By the time I got home I felt a complete bitch,” I said, looking down at my hands.  “I do enjoy your company and I wish we could continue as friends.  When you sent me the check, I couldn’t handle it.  I went on a mini bender and …Oh my god!”  My hand went to my head automatically. 

“What is it?” he commanded, taking my face in his hands and forcing me to meet his gaze.

“I remember what happened … the check … my fall …”

“I am so sorry, Issy.  Please forgive me.”  The tension in his voice was unmistakable and his eyes stayed on mine, silently pleading.

My heart swelled.  “There is nothing to forgive.  It was my own fault.  I needn’t have brought the check back and it was my decision to run from you like a coward.  I should have known that stilettos, speed and staircases are not a good combination,” I grinned at him meekly.

“Oh Issy!”  He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly, muttering my name over and over into my hair. 

I immediately relaxed into his embrace.  I marveled at how good his comforting arms felt.  And, amazingly, I realized that I felt good for having made him feel better. 
It’s just like when Angel is upset and I make her feel better.  And, when I am upset and Angel soothes me by holding me and stroking my hair.  Oh my god, Lucas is actually stroking my hair!  Could I have more than a one night stand with this man?

We stayed like that for a few minutes until I became aware of the distant, yet unmistakable ring tone of my cell.  It was the ring tone that I’d chosen to alert me to Angel’s calls.  I instinctively turned my head and Lucas immediately pulled away.

“My cell … I should get that.  Angel will be worried,” I muttered, feeling self conscious suddenly.

Lucas stood and then strode to the door.  “I’ll get your purse.”

“Thanks.”  I stayed sitting on the edge of the bed, wondering what I should say to Angel.

He returned moments later and handed me my purse.  My cell had stopped ringing but I fished it out of my purse and checked my notifications.  I had two missed calls and four text messages from Angel.

“I should return Angel’s calls, otherwise she will send out a search party,” I said apologetically.

He nodded his head once.  “Of course.  You still haven’t eaten.  I’ll arrange for some food to be brought up.  Is there anything else you need?

“No.  No, thank you,” I replied, giving him a grateful smile.

“Okay.  I’ll give you some privacy.  Shout if you need anything - I won’t be far away.”  He looked thoughtful for a moment but then, without another word, he turned and left the room, pulling the door to, but not closing it, behind him.

I quickly called Angel, who answered immediately. “Issy, where on earth are you?  I tried calling you earlier to see if you were okay and to ask you to meet me for lunch but-”

“I’m with Lucas,” I interrupted.

“You’re what?” she cried, making me flinch and hold my cell away from my ear.

“I tripped on the stairs and hit my head.  Apparently, I knocked myself out.  Lucas brought me to his apartment to make sure I was okay.”

“Oh my god, Issy! Are you okay?  Where’s his apartment?  I’m coming to fetch you.”

“Yes, I’m fine.  I just have a headache, that’s all.  Lucas spoke with a doctor who said that I should be kept under observation for 24 hours.  He has a list of symptoms to watch out for so he is babysitting me.”

“Well, he can give me the list and I can watch out for you.  You shouldn’t be with that creep after the stunt he pulled on Saturday.  Where are you?” Angel’s voice had risen about an octave.

“I’m fine, honestly.  We have some issues to sort out and we are getting there.  I don’t want to lose the contract for mini Dakota.  I’m okay here.  Anyway, I thought you and Chad were having dinner with his folks tonight.”

“Oh yeah, we are.  But you know that I would skip that if you needed me so don’t use that as an excuse,” Angel huffed.

“An excuse?  What do I need to make excuses for?”

“You say that you don’t want to lose the contract but I don’t think that’s all you don’t want to lose.”

I shifted uncomfortably.  “I don’t know what you mean.”

Angel sighed.  “Don’t mind me.  Are you … hang on, if he says that he has to keep you under observation for 24 hours, does that mean he plans to keep you there overnight?”

Oh my god!  Me … stay here with Lucas overnight?  Well, no other women have stayed here! … What’s that got to do with anything?