“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this. Or heard you curse like, well, a sailor. Pun intended.” The edginess that had been surrounding her seemed to fade a little. “So you’re sure you don’t feel obligated? Because I—”
He growled under his breath and palmed his keys. “Come on. We’re leaving.” Not caring what she thought, he took her hand in his. Those green eyes of hers widened, but she didn’t struggle. Just linked fingers with him and silently let him lead her to the elevators. He was parked on another floor and couldn’t get out of here soon enough. Part of him wanted to take over and lead the internal investigation, but being with Sierra right now was more important than anything.
It was beyond time he told her how he felt about her. If he lost her as a friend…no, he couldn’t even go there. He wouldn’t. He’d seen flashes of lust in her eyes before but the woman was so damn innocent. He was pretty sure she was a virgin even though she’d never come out and said it. He knew he wasn’t remotely good enough for her, especially not if she was actually that innocent, but he wasn’t waiting any longer. If she rejected him, he’d deal. If not…he was going to give her the most intense pleasure of her life. And make sure she enjoyed it so much she never wanted to walk away from him.
Chapter 4
Hayden tensed as he heard Sierra’s light footsteps on the stairs. After stopping by her place and letting her grab enough clothes for a few days, they’d come back to his home. He lived in a two-story place next door to his brother in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. He loved where he worked but he enjoyed being close to the desert at night. Everything out there was quiet, settled…the exact opposite of how he was feeling at the moment.
Sierra had wanted to take a shower so he’d decided to cook for her while she was upstairs. He’d had to grab chicken from his brother’s house next door because he’d had nothing thawed out. He didn’t remember making the simple rice and chicken mash up, though—because he’d been fantasizing about what she looked like in the shower. Naked, with hot water rushing over her delicious body. A body he’d fantasized about far too often. He imagined her nipples were—
“Hey, you cooked?”
He turned to find her stepping tentatively into his kitchen wearing green and blue striped pajama pants and a fitted green tank top. Unable to stop himself, his gaze zeroed in on her breasts. She definitely wasn’t wearing a bra and he was at the end of his rope pretending he didn’t feel anything for her. He simply couldn’t do it anymore.
“Uh, Hayden?” Sierra’s nervous voice drew his gaze up to meet hers.
She’d asked a question… “Yeah, I thought you’d be hungry.” He turned back around and tried to will his body under control. Too bad it wasn’t working. His cock was insistently pushing against the zipper of his pants, and he just prayed Sierra hadn’t noticed.
“Thanks. Whatever it is smells amazing.” She leaned against the counter next to him looking a lot better than a couple hours ago. Except that fucking bruise on her temple that made him want to hunt down her attacker and inflict serious damage. At least her ivory cheeks had color in them again and she didn’t have that terrified look. She’d left her jet black hair down so that it fell in damp waves over her left shoulder, covering one breast. God, what he wouldn’t give to taste her nipples. To suck on them until they were tight little buds, shiny from his kisses and—
Sierra laid a reassuring hand on his forearm and he realized he’d just been staring. “I’m okay. I hate that worried look on your face.”
Hayden cleared his throat and turned off the stove, glad she’d mistaken his expression for worry. Ignoring her statement, he said, “I’ve got beer and water in the fridge—but you probably shouldn’t have anything alcoholic tonight. It doesn’t seem like you have a concussion but it would make me feel better. If I’d known you were coming I’d have picked something up. Luckily Jay had a few things at his place.” His girlfriend Ellie’s influence no doubt.
Sierra just smiled and pushed away from the counter. “I don’t think I have a concussion either, but water is totally fine.”
As Hayden pulled out plates he looked over his shoulder to find her bent over slightly as she peered into his refrigerator, that pert ass sticking up. The sight evoked way too many hot fantasies and he tore his gaze away with difficulty.
“Oh my god, pretty much all you have is beer and water. This is horrible, Hayden.” Her sweet voice was chastising. “I would go crazy with a fridge like this. No wonder you’re always eating at Cloud 9.”
Grinning, he started to set the table. “They’ve got the best chef in town.”
A beer and water bottle in her hands, she nudged the door shut with her hip. “Whatever. You can’t live on just dinners of veal forestiere or roasted rack of lamb all the time.”
“Yes I can. I already do.”
She shook her head, but her lips curved up into a soft smile. “That’s just sad. You need to take better care of yourself with meals like breakfast and lunch.”
“How about I just take care of you tonight?” he murmured, watching her carefully.
Her cheeks flushed a delicious shade of pink as she sat at the table. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
He grunted, not wanting her appreciation.
“So have you heard anything from Jay or Iris? I know it hasn’t been that long, but I thought they might have found something.” She shivered lightly and Hayden resisted the urge to drag her into his arms and comfort her. He needed to show restraint when she was so vulnerable.
He shook his head as he set a plate of food in front of her. “Unfortunately, no. But give them time.”
Compared to the masterpieces she created, chicken and rice was nothing, but it would fill her up and warm her body. So far she’d been handling everything well, but he was waiting for her adrenaline to crash. Before she fell asleep, he wanted her fed. So when she took a few bites but only pushed her food around with a fork, he frowned.
“Is it that bad or are you not hungry?” he asked before taking a sip of his beer.
“It’s great, I’m just…I don’t know what I am but I’m not really hungry. It’s so sweet that you cooke
d for me. I’m sorry I screwed up your plans tonight though.” She said the last part in a rush and he didn’t miss the flash of…hurt in her eyes before she masked it.
But that didn’t make sense. “Plans?” He’d only had plans with her. Like every other Thursday for practically the past year.
“Your date.” She set her fork down now, not even pretending to eat.
Hayden blinked at her. What was she talking about? “I didn’t have a date—except with you. It’s Thursday.”
Now she looked confused. “Oh.”
A few things suddenly clicked into place. “You thought I had a date tonight? Is that why you left the security floor upset earlier?” He’d planned to ask her about it, but then the shit had hit the fan and that had been the least of his concerns.
“I wasn’t upset. I was mad you didn’t just tell me. I wouldn’t have wasted a trip up to the fiftieth floor if I’d known you had plans. But…you really didn’t?” she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
The thought that he might have had a date upset her no matter what she said. He could see it written all over her pretty face. Putting his own fork down, he scooted his chair closer and turned her so that she was facing him directly. He was going to set the record straight. “I don’t know who told you I had a date, but they were mistaken.” Casino gossip was notoriously wrong so he wasn’t surprised someone had come up with that bullshit. Practically everything got twisted out of proportion there. Hell, he’d heard that Sierra had hooked up with two of his security guys and he knew for a fact that wasn’t true. “I haven’t been on a date or fucked anyone since the week I met you.”
Her eyes widened, probably because of his crude language, but he could tell the news pleased her. “Really?”
He nodded.
“Oh.” She bit her bottom lip nervously.
“Aren’t you going to ask me why?” He intentionally dropped his voice, willing her to take the verbal bait.
“Why?” It came out as a whisper.
