Page 82 of Regret

On their way to Adam’s beach house, Hunter tried to make sense of everything he was feeling. Even though it was new, it was also familiar. The way his soul reached out to hers, the way he suddenly had this odd sense of possessiveness over her, and how protective he had been over her—it all pointed to one thing. But he wasn’t ready to go there yet. He wasn’t sure he would ever be ready. Everything had happened so fast, he needed to make sure he could trust whatever the fuck was happening between him and Scarlet. But only time would tell, time he was hoping they had.

“Where do you go?” Scarlet’s voice jerked him back to reality, and he glanced her way.

“What do you mean?”

“Last night was the second time you left in the middle of the night.” She looked at him. “And both times you came back battered and bruised. Where do you go?”

Taken aback by her question, Hunter turned his focus back to the road ahead. That was a part of his life he kept hidden from everyone, not wanting to share how deep his scars went. But now, with her, he wanted to open up. He wanted to tell her. The problem was, how did he answer that question without sounding like a complete psycho?

There was only one way he could. “I’ll show you.”

Twenty minutes later, Hunter stopped in front of a house twice the size of Adam’s beach house. The parking area was filled with Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Hummers, every expensive car imaginable.

“You came to a party?” Scarlet asked, confused, while staring at the crowd of girls standing outside in their miniskirts, holding their glasses of champagne.

“I guess you can call it that. But it’s not your normal kind of party. Come on.” He got out of the car and walked around to her side. On their way up the stairs, he took her hand. “You need to stay with me the entire time we’re here, okay?”

“Why? What kind of party is this?”

They stopped at the top of the stairs and he stared at her. “It’s the kind of party where money talks, and assholes walk. Inside that house,” he pointed toward the door, “there is no such thing as rules. So you stay at my side and you act like you belong to me.”

“Surely you know by now that I belong to no one, Ace.” She shot him a cocky grin.

He stepped right up to her, glancing down. “You and I both know that is no longer the truth.”

Her tongue flicked out, licking her lips. “And why not?”

He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, tasting the subtle sweetness of cherry. He didn’t kiss her. He didn’t glide his tongue in her mouth. He just touched her lips with his, and he heard her inhale sharply.

“Because you’re mine now. Whether you like it or not.” He placed his fingers against her inner thigh, leisurely stroking his knuckles over her skin. She closed her eyes as he touched her. “And the way your body is responding to me right now proves it.”

The expression on her face was one of pure desire, and he loved it. Just the thought that she was turned on from a simple touch of his hand made him feel like the most powerful man in the world.

She opened her eyes. “Wipe that smug smile off your face. It’s really unbecoming.”

“Oh, you’ll be coming again very, very soon, kitten.”

“Shut up.”

He laughed and took her hand again, leading her into the house.

While they walked through the foyer, he watched her take in her surroundings. If she thought Adam’s house was amazing, her mind was probably about to explode. Everything was gold, marble, and platinum. All sorts of expensive paintings, artwork, and knickknacks were displayed throughout the house. The SOB who owned this house sure had real expensive yet specific taste.

They stopped in front of a guy standing guard by a door leading down to the cellar. As soon as he recognized Hunter, he stood aside and allowed them through.

The lower they went down the spiral steps, the stuffier it felt around them. It was something Hunter knew well. The humid air and the stench of chaos. He had grown addicted to it over the last few years. It was his drug.

“I hope you’re not planning on taking me to some chamber where we’re supposed to participate in some sick orgy.”

“You wish, kitten. The only person getting close to that body of yours is me.”

A few more steps and Hunter paused, turning to face her. “So…I’m not just a private investigator.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Okay?”

“I’m also a cage fighter.”

“Professional?”

---