Page 23 of Addiction

“What did happen, sir?” Her expectant gaze and the increased pace of her breathing conveyed how important the question was to her.

“A lot happened, little girl.” He skimmed his digits over hers. “Things I suspect neither of us anticipated.”

That was one way of putting it. Tucker had taken Ella with an air of umbrage. She had been nothing but an inconvenience at the beginning, but it hadn’t taken long for her to become more. Within hours, she’d morphed into a lust-fueled fascination for him, and after a day or so, a new emotion had stirred, something he hadn’t expected to feel—the urge to protect her. However, the irony was if there was anyone Ella had needed shielding from during those hours, it was him.

The desire he felt was understandable. Ella was young and insanely beautiful. Any red-blooded man would want her. He hadn’t known how wonderful she was until she was there in front of him, but once he had her, he was always going to long to bed her. Even though she was there as part of a business arrangement. Even though she was patently too young for him and even though it was foolish to let sex get in the way of a transaction.

How can I resist her?

The newer emotions bubbling inside him were profound and unsettling. Why should he want to look after a woman he hardly knew, and why had he wanted to get to know her at all? Sex was one thing, but the yearning for more was something else. Even now, sitting there in his practically brand-new kitchen, he couldn’t explain why he’d brought her with him through the forest and back to the city. When Bennett had called saying he had Tucker’s money and wanted Ella back, Tucker had only been certain of one thing—he just had to keep her.

“Does this mean something?” She gestured between them. “This thing we’ve found.”

“I’d like to think so.” What was he saying? Tucker was smarter than this, wasn’t he? He was old enough to know better. Hell, he was old enough to be her father! “What do you think, little girl?”

“I do feel something when we’re together, sir.” The crease in her flawless skin deepened. “That’s why I didn’t try to stay behind in the forest.”

“I thought you hated the forest?” His tone was dry.

“Not hate.” Her features relaxed into a smile. “And yeah, I didn’t want to stay, but more than that, I knew I’d rather be with you…” Her voice trailed away as if she, too, could hardly believe the admission. “It’s why I still call you ‘sir.’” Her breathing had become ragged.

“I thought you did that because I commanded it.” His shaft thickened at the tantalizing prospect. Tucker had been fortunate enough to experience Ella’s fabulous body, and having her defer to him was the extraordinary cherry on top of her exceptionally sweet cake. He couldn’t fathom how he’d got so lucky.

“Maybe at first.” Her reply was breathy. “But not now.”

“Why do it then?” He wasn’t sure how he should feel about this latest admission.

“Because I want to.” She caught her lower lip between her white teeth. “Because it makes me hot to say it.”

“That’s good to know.” He encased his palm over hers. “Because it makes me hard when you say it.”

“Fuck, sir.” She heaved in a breath, her gaze darting to the place where his hand cradled hers before slowly returning to his face. “This is going to be complicated.”

Chapter Ten

Cleaned and Dirtied

Ella

“Let’s get you cleaned up.”

That hadn’t been the answer she’d expected when she’d confessed her vulnerability, but something in his tone goaded the woman she once was. She did want to be clean. It had been days since she’d shaved and showered. Days since she’d been able to wash her hair. Days since she’d felt like herself.

His suggestion sounded wonderful.

“Yes, please, sir.” She rose from her stool as he left his, her pulse picking up its pace even though nothing more illicit had been mentioned than the chance to use his bathroom and finally access hot water.

“This way.” He signaled for her to reenter the plush hallway.

She followed his tread on the deep-pile carpet. Her toes sank between its fibers, receiving a well-needed massage after the many hours she’d been barefoot in the boots. Inhaling at the sensation, she watched as he pushed open another door. She moved to join him, and glancing around his body, she took in the look of what constituted his bathroom. Her jaw dropped at the sight.

The room was utterly gigantic and seemed to be decked in the same bountiful marble the kitchen enjoyed. Two huge bay windows allowed plenty of light to spill into the space, illuminating the vast free-standing, roll-top bath at the far end and the elevated area on which it stood proudly. Her focus traveled closer to where they waited in the doorway, acknowledging the toilet before she took in the massive walk-in shower that dominated the other half of the room. The unit looked larger than most people’s entire bathrooms. The fancy facilities were finalized by the twin basins plumbed into the left-hand side of the space. Matching towels and rugs in royal blue hues were draped variously around the place, completing its breathtaking finesse.

Ella had grown up in a home with numerous plush bathrooms, each larger than the last, with opulent amenities, but she’d never seen anything as magnificent as this. Not even the suite she’d enjoyed at The Savoy could rival it.

“Here you are.” He signaled to the array of bathing options. “Help yourself, little girl. I promise each faucet has running hot water.”

“This is gorgeous, sir.” She wasn’t lying as she stepped past him, her expression presumably as awe-struck as she felt. Her feet were cold against the marble floor, but she hardly noticed as she looked around. “Thank you.”

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