Page 30 of Wretched Heart
“This is a business deal, nothing more, Maddie,” Hunter says, his eyes narrowing. “It’s the one you put on the table this morning, remember?”
I don’t remember divorce being part of our conversation, but I try to ignore the disappointment that steals the air from my lungs. It’s my own fault for trying to romanticize this whole situation. What’s important is that it’s still a plan that will save the mill and keep me away from Hugo’s clutches. But that doesn’t mean I have to let Hunter have the last say.
“The only thing I remember is that I was naked in the shower at the time with your cum all over my stomach.”
Hunter blows air from his puffed out cheeks. “Hard to forget,” he admits. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes when he adds, “But I was deadly serious when I told you I wasn’t going to ruin you.”
“Your actual words were that youwantedto ruin me.”
His expression hardens as he straightens up. In two strides, he’s in front of me, grabbing me by the lapels of my jacket. “Wanted but wouldn’t.”
“But we’d be married, Hunter,” I say. “I’m pretty sure a husband can’t ruin a wife’s virtue.”
“This one isn’t going to take that risk,” he growls.
“You sure about that?”
His eyes rove down to my lips, then drop to the gap he’s opened up between my chest and my suit jacket. He releases one of the lapels and slides his hand inside my black lace bra. My groan transforms to a hiss when he takes my pebbled nipple between his finger and thumb and pinches hard.
“Don’t put me to the test, little bird.”
I’m not expecting the thrill of pleasure that accompanies the sharp pain, and my thighs clench. I’m pretty sure my clean underwear is already soaked through. “Why did you change your mind about marrying me?”
He palms my breast and rubs his thumb over mysensitized peak as he considers his answer. “Because you’re a puzzle I want to solve.”
“And when you have?”
He shrugs, withdrawing his hand. “We both move on to a new game,” he says, stepping away. “But I promise you, Maddie. When our business is done, you’ll still be a virgin.”
I glare at him. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Hunter. Plans change,” I say, throwing his words back at him.
Hunter’s in the corridor, a smirk on his face. “Game on,” he says and before I can respond, his attention is drawn to noise coming from the entrance hall. “Maddie’s in here, Jake.”
As the sound of luggage wheels grows nearer, Hunter casts one more glance in my direction, mischief flickering in his eyes but he says no more. Neither do I as I step into the corridor.
Once I see Hunter disappear around a corner, I greet Jake.
“Thank you, Jake. My room’s the one with Guest 3 written on it,” I tell him, pointing to the bedroom next to Hunter. Game on, asshole.
Chapter 9
Hunter
Our new office set up is identical to the one in our headquarters in Chicago. We have a standard formation of four desks, one on each side of the room and a conference table in the center. Within a week, each desk will develop its own personality to reflect each of the Griffin brothers.
Mace has claimed the work station at the furthest end, and it’s already covered in a spider web of cables attached to units that blink and flicker. My desk is on one side, and the one Ash will claim is directly opposite. Reid’s desk is nearest the door, representative of the fact that he was the last of the brothers to join our team. We hadn’t planned to bring him into the firm, but it turns out he’s as stubborn as the rest of us.
Reid’s currently putting his law degree to good use by helping a contractor fix Connie’s widescreen TV to the wall in her living quarters above the garage block. She’s a Netflix junkie and keeping Connie happy is in all our best interests. And now I have another woman I’m going to have to keep happy, or at least occupied.
“We need to talk,” says Mace. He’s sitting at the conference table, his feet up on the tabletop, and an annoying smirk on his face.
“Let me guess, you don’t want me to do it.”
“Got it in one,” Mace says. “I get why you did it, Hunter. And as much as I hate to admit it, I wouldn’t have been happy leaving Maddie there either, but this isn’t what we signed up for.”
“None of it is what we signed up for,” I reply. “But I don’t see how else we can do business with the Corbyns. Hugo is a piece of work, and I’m not walking away from this until we have a solution that protects his family from him.”
“I don’t disagree that it’ll be fun fucking with Hugo. But fucking with Maddie?”
