Page 32 of Hunted Temptation
Turning my head, I look over my shoulder at him. His focus is on me and not anywhere near the furniture or the kitchen.Blinking, I clear my throat, unsure of how to respond. Pressing my lips together, I roll them a few times before I shift my attention back to the furnishings.
I walk toward the window and look down at the sidewalk below. It’s really a cute area. There are tree-lined sidewalks and even some people walking around. I’m not sure how long I’m people-watching before I feel warmth against my back.
I hold my breath for a moment, then let it out slowly when I feel Vaughn’s fingers curl around my biceps. He holds me, and I close my eyes, waiting, hoping that he’ll kiss me. I want his mouth on my body. I want his hands on me. I want him everywhere.
He puts me out of my misery. His lips touch the side of my neck, traveling down to my shoulder, and then I feel his tongue taste me. “I have some shit I need to do at the office,” he murmurs. “I’ll show you to your room and get you all set up before I go.”
I open my mouth to beg him to kiss me, to beg him for anything, but that doesn’t happen. Instead, he takes a step backward. Turning around to face him, I lift my gaze to meet his, and that’s when I see it. His expression is shuttered. My stomach sinks. My heart squeezes.
Vaughn jerks his chin, then I watch as he walks away from me. One step, then another. I know he wants me to follow, and I do, but without as much excitement as I just felt moments ago.
He steps into a room, and I immediately know it isn’t his bedroom before he even flips on the light. He points toward the bed, which has a white bedspread and white pillows placed neatly against the headboard.
“That’s the bed,” Vaughn murmurs as he continues through the room.
He flips on another set of lights that illuminate the bathroom. White marble countertops with matching floors greetme. It appears almost clinical, but it also has a comforting feeling. It’s definitely not in use, and maybe that’s what’s soothing about it, I don’t know.
“Make a list of anything you need, and I’ll get it ordered for you when I get back. I’ve already put in a grocery order, and it should be delivered when I return as well. I ordered some lunch, which should be here any minute. But this is your space,” he announces as he walks over to another door, pushing it open and flicking on another light.
It’s an empty closet. Well, almost empty. There are some pillows on the top shelf, some blankets and extra sheets, along with empty hangers.
“That’s a lot of ordering,” I point out as I continue to take in the space around me.
Clearing my throat, I chew on the corner of my bottom lip as I continue to take in everything around me. There is a television on the wall across from the bed and even a tall dresser beneath it, along with a nightstand on each side of the bed.
“I don’t shop when anything and everything I could want can just be brought to me.”
My lips curve up into a grin. I can’t help the smile because that’s who this man is. He is, without a doubt, someone who orders his food, clothes, and everything else. He is used to the finer things in life, that much is clear, and he enjoys them…thoroughly.
Before I can respond to his words, I hear the buzzer sound somewhere in the apartment. Vaughn leaves me alone and walks toward the front door. I hear his voice but can’t make out the words, then the door opens and closes, a lock flips into place, and he calls out my name. He didn’t need to. He didn’t need to call for me.
I was listening.
Thankfully, he does, though, because just from his words, my feet become unstuck from the floor, and I move toward him. He's standing in his pristine kitchen, a couple of bags of food in front of him, the contents he’s already emptying onto the counter.
“Lunch is here,” he murmurs, continuing to empty the bags. When he’s finished, he clears his throat and jerks his chin down to the containers. “You want it on real plates?” he asks.
“I have a feeling you’re going to eat it on real plates,” I say.
His lips twitch into a smirk. “Yeah, I am.”
“Then sure. And I’ll clean up.”
Vaughn chuckles as he begins to plate the food. I don’t even notice what is on the damn thing. All I can do is focus on him. As we make our way over to his table, I sink down onto the seat. It is soft and luxurious, like everything else in the house.
I eat, though I don’t taste anything. I am so nervous about what happens next. He’s clearly already done with me. He’s shut himself down, and we’re both just rolling through the motions at this point.
He’s home, and I’m this little creature he’s saved. A pet he’s saved. A trinket to be put up on a shelf and forgotten about.
We eat in silence, Vaughn spending the time on his phone, and then he’s gone, and I clean up the lunch before I set up my room. Which doesn’t take long at all, considering all I have is a backpack full of stuff, half of which is dirty and needs to be washed.
VAUGHN
LeavingElodie alone in the condo, I make sure to not only set all the cameras but also to arm the alarms. She won’t knowthey’re there, but I will, and I can see anything and everything she’ll be doing while I’m away.
Which is the main reason I put her in the guest room. My bedroom is the only part of my condo that isn’t monitored. I need to see her. Every fucking minute while I’m gone. I need to know that she’s safe.
And when she’s in the safe house, I’ll also be able to monitor her there… in every room, even the master. There is no square inch of the safe house that I can’t see from my phone, my computer, or the surveillance room at the office.
