Page 19 of Addicted

“The idea of becoming some rich man’s kept woman—”

Hugh moved forward quicker than I expected. He had my back against the door while his hand grabbed at my neck and squeezed. A flash of pressure gave way topleasure, and I bit my cheek to stop the moan from escaping my lips.

“Not an option,” Hugh whispered against my lips as his hand tightened on my throat.

“You’re sure?” I was egging him on, daring him to keep going and relishing in the haze of desire that was flooding through me.

“I have the perfect cure for that mouth, and it’s not my dick. That’s a reward you have to earn.”

A wave of heat rolled through me again, laying heavily between my legs. I turned to look out my window and realized the blinds were still drawn from my nap. Hugh tightened his hold.

“No. You look at me.”

My gaze came back to his as I felt the peaks of my nipples brushing against my blazer and I tried to get on my tippy-toes to relieve the pressure, but he just followed my movements. His tongue snuck out, tasting my lips as he grazed his nose against mine.

He loosened his hand, smiling as I took one deep breath after another.

“You were saying?” His hand ran down my injured arm. I hissed as his touch dragged my blazer across the raw skin.

“What—” he looked at me, confused, and I averted my gaze.

All the pleasure he’d stoked fell away, and I was cold all over again. The confusion and then understanding on his face opened a pit below me, obliterating the ease I’d gotten from my nap.

I pushed at Hugh and tried to walk past him to my desk.

“Take it off.” He held my hand and he spoke using that tone—the one that made bigwigs open their wallets and caused entire rooms to sit up straight.

I shook my head, avoiding eye contact and trying to change the subject.

“Hugh—”

“Denise. Take off the fucking blazer.”

CHAPTER 9

HUGH

Denise was scared. Something was up, and there was no fucking way I was leaving this office until she told me the goddamn truth. And she was going to start by taking off that blazer and showing me why she hissed the second I touched her arm.

She’d known me for too long to fool herself into thinking that I was going to let this go. I was standing here as long as it took. I made sure she could hear it in my voice and see it in my eyes.

Her eyes went round and glassy. Without a word, she grabbed the edge of her sleeve, pulling her arm free with a wince, sliding the blazer free from her shoulders.

Blotchy purple and blue bruises marked her skin, almost glowing in the fluorescent lighting. I worked hard to hide my rage as I spotted four deep scratches across the bruises, freshly scabbed and an angry crimson.

She laid her blazer on the desk as I stepped forward and turned her arm closer to the natural light. He’d done this. I knew it. He’d hurt her and I was going to rip his fucking balls off.

My years in corporate America had given me the best poker face in the business. I could hate your fucking guts and you wouldn’t have a clue. I was using every muscle, every inch of my being not to show the utter rage flowing under my skin. The desire to march across the city and destroy Curtis was dizzying.

But, before I could do that, I had to take care of my girl.

Mine.

I wasn’t waiting for her to choose me. I was choosing for her.

My fingers gently grabbed her palm as I turned her arm left and right. Swallowing hard against the lump in my throat, my fingers found her chin.

“Are you okay?”

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