Page 16 of Hacked For Love
Or maybe he’s one of those guys who can lust after you with everything he has, while planning the whole time to slip a knife in yourback.
Or maybe he’s sincere. Somehow, that possibility frightens me the most out of all of them. Because I have no defense against sincerity. I barely know what it looks like any more. Not since Spiderdied.
“Don’t do that. That’s not fair,” I mumble uncomfortably and busy myself with another big bite of steak. I suddenly worry that I may not have much more time left for my meal. Will I have to get out of here? My heart’s poundingagain.
“I’m sorry? What isn’t?” he asks in such an innocent tone that ithurts.
“Don’t hit on me.” My hands are shaking. I hide them on myknees.
He scoffs in surprise. “Why not? Are you involved withsomeone?”
“I know you’re just trying to put me off my guard, so I’ll do what you want. There’s no need. Just be direct with me, and don’t…do that.” I take a few deepbreaths.
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” He has an incredulous laugh in his voice, but one look in my eyes, and he hesitates. “Oh. I see it is. I’m sorry for any confusion I’ve caused, but…that’s not what I’mabout.”
“What are you about, then?” I’m still notfollowing.
“It’s simple. If you’re capable of doing as good a job as I think you’ll do, then I want you on my team. That part, however, is separate from noticing just how attractive and charming youare.”
He winks, and I feel my breath freeze in my chest as my toes curl. “Oh,” I mumble, and go back to eatingmechanically.
Oh God. Oh crap. What do Ido?
He watches me for a while, looking even more intrigued than before. “You don’t really date, do you?” he asks finally, and I shake myhead.
“No time.”No experience. No trust,either.
“So, you’re not used to men being attracted to you.” He’s gazing at me steadilyagain.
“Not unless they want to take advantage. You…you have every reason to want revenge on me. I’m still getting used to the idea that you might actually…support what I’m doing. That you’re not about tof—”
His grin flashes and I stop short. Because I have a feeling that he’d happily fuck me if I brought it up, but that…wasn’t exactly what I was talkingabout.
“I don’t really care what happens to me from all this,” I admit. “But I just don’t want it to happen before I finish my work. So, I have to be careful. In…allways.”
“I see.” He still seems amused, and not put off in the least. He simply sits back and says, “All right then. How about you sleep on my offer, and I’ll have a look into your work with these…clients. We’ll talktomorrow.”
I nod slowly, picking at my meal. “That’s fair.” I wonder, however, if his other…proposal…the implied one that shocked me just as much as the first did, is going to get revisited aswell.
The very thought makes me realize that I’m going to get a lot of work done tonight…because the thought of him wanting melike thatis going to keep me awake for a whole newreason.
Is he toying with me? Can I trust him?His smile is impenetrable, and yet I get the feeling that those eyes can see right through me. Right down to the girl huddled in the cardboard box who is still praying that no man will hurt heragain.
Chapter8
Drake
For once, nightmares don’t greet me when I fall asleep. Instead, I’m tumbling back and forth on my bed in the dark, totally wrapped up in the woman in myarms.
We’re frenzied with need for each other, gasping for air, our limbs tangling together. She whimpers and strains against me as I part her thighs, her hips lifting in slow circles as she offersherself.
“Don’t stop,” she whispers in my ear as she clings to me. I thrust into her and sensation travels through my body, hazy pleasure rising past my hips. She moans, nails stinging my shoulders as I ride her closer and closer to the edge ofecstasy.
In the dream, her head falls back as she climaxes, and I see that silky mop of emerald-colored hair for just a moment before my own body takesoff.
I shout myself awake in the dim room, thrashing free of my blankets, my hips pushing upward against nothing. My voice echoes off the walls, and I realize that I am alone. The climax leaves me shuddering with pleasure even as the disappointmenthits.
I collapse back to my mattress, sticky and tingling, yet still unfulfilled. I lie there panting for a moment, knowing I need a damn shower but still longing for the woman in my dream. The one who wronged me, the one I just met...the one I can’t stop thinkingabout.
