by Cali MacKay
“Please…” She let out a weary sigh, not quite sure what she was even asking of him. Yet she had to be strong, even as he nuzzled her, his body so close she couldn’t help but lean against him. But too much was at risk and she couldn’t keep doing this. “Just let me do my job. Let me get to the bottom of this. My boss won’t let me off the case, which means this can’t keep happening between us.”
He pulled away just enough to look at her, his eyes darkening in question. “Wait. What do you mean he won’t let you off the case? You asked?”
“I had to, Gabe. There was no other choice—for all the good it did.” She tried to slip away, tried to put some distance between them, but he grabbed the collar of her robe with both hands, holding her firmly to him.
“Hadley, I’m really not trying to cause you problems, but trying to get off the case just to avoid me is not happening. I’m telling you that your job won’t be in jeopardy even if we’re caught.” He cupped her cheek, his eyes locked on hers. “You have my word. There’s no reason for you to worry.”
She wanted to believe him, and she had no doubt that he thought he could control the outcome—control her boss. Under normal circumstances, and given the amount of money, power, and influence Gabe and Ryker Investments could wield, she had no doubt that would be the case. But her boss was a stubborn and proud man, and wasn’t easily influenced.
“Look…we’ve barely had the chance to get to know each other and frankly, I’m not used to this sort of thing—and that’s without my job complicating matters.” She couldn’t help but frown. “All I’m asking is that we hold off until we find the bastard who’s causing you problems. And maybe after that, I could take a few days off. We could…hang out—if you want.”
“If you need to take things a bit slower, I can try to do that—though I make no promises. Being around you makes me want to do things to you. Lots of dirty things that’ll have you screaming out my name. But for you, I can try.” He gave her a sweet, almost chaste kiss, and yet there was still such an intensity to it, to him, that her heart still couldn’t help but race.
“Well, I appreciate the effort.” And she did.
She liked Gabe, probably more than she had any right to. And after he’d come to her rescue when they first met, and then later that night, made her feel special—made her feel wanted—pushing him away was damn hard to do. Clearly. It had been a long time since anyone had made her feel good about herself, and though she knew she didn’t need a guy to feel special, it was damn nice to be on the receiving end of some kindness.
“I haven’t eaten yet, but if you’d like to work over breakfast, it might give us a head start on our day and finding this bastard.” His jaw tightened for just a moment, before the tension slipped free. Running a gentle hand down her arm, his touch lingered, making her pulse skitter, before he finally took a step away from her. “If you have no objections to breakfast, I’ll be waiting for you in the lobby.”
Hadley agreed and saw him to the door. It didn’t take long for her to get ready, but as she was doing so, she couldn’t help but notice how relieved she was at the thought that she’d no longer have to push Gabe away. Or at least, she told herself she was. He’d actually behave himself—or at the very least try to, which was a huge step in the right direction, and what she wanted…right?
Obviously, she wanted him, but she had to act like a responsible adult, not a sex-crazed, horny teenager. And it wasn’t as though hooking up with Gabe would ever result in anything long-term. Despite their quick hook up, she was a long-term relationship sort of gal, and after perusing the tabloids, one thing was clear—Gabe was not a long-term type of guy.
And yet…she chastised herself when she picked out a professional yet sexy outfit, knowing she’d be with Gabe. Given the cooler November temperatures, she opted for her knee-high boots once more, and then paired them with a smoky gray tweed pencil skirt and a pale pink sweater with a scoop neckline, her hair tied back in a sleek ponytail. She was still comfortable, but looked put together—which she deemed an accomplishment, given the fact that she was living out of a suitcase. Home was only an hour and a half away, and she had every intention of heading home for the weekend to do laundry, refresh her wardrobe, and water her plants.
She caught Gabe watching her from across the lobby as she stepped off the elevator and walked towards him, his gaze smoldering as he took her in from head to toe. He got to his feet as she approached, taking her by the elbow and leaning in to kiss her cheek sweetly, his voice but a whisper in her ear, his head bent to hers. “Babe…you’re playing dirty. You know that, right? How the hell am I supposed to keep myself from pinning you against the wall and fucking you senseless when you look like a naughty librarian?”
“Naughty?” The word danced across her lips as she spoke it on a hushed breath. “I assure you, I’m not.”
“Sweetheart, everything about you is naughty, from your fuckable lips, to your perfectly pert tits—not to mention an ass that won’t quit. You’re the very definition.” He slipped a hand down her waist to the flare of her hips, grabbing her possessively and pulling her to him, his words only flaming the fire he insisted on lighting within her. “And when you dress like this…fuck, Hadley. It’s just not right to tease me like this.”
His words left her dizzy, as if she couldn’t quite catch her breath. “Mr. Ryker…you’re touching me.”
“Mr. Ryker, is it? Fuck…I like that even more. And just so you know, I’ll be doing a lot more than touching you before long.” With his head still bent to hers, he tightened his hold on her, his entire body coiled tight with tension—and then he was releasing her, her heart still pounding from it all. “Come on. I’m starving, and if I don’t get fed, I’m going to look to satisfy my other hungers.”
She believed it, especially when he was looking at her like he could devour her head to toe. So much for behaving himself.
It didn’t take long to find herself in his sexy little sports car, hugging the curves of the road by the ocean side as he drove them out of town. Yet despite the winding road, his gaze kept drifting to her legs, where her skirt had ridden up from sitting. “Shouldn’t your eyes be on the road?”
“Probably, though I’ll be damned if I can look away from those fine legs of yours. You did this on purpose, didn’t you? The moment I agree to try to behave myself, you’re making it nearly impossible for me to do so.” He shook his head as he tsk, tsk’d her, his eyes alight with such intensity, it made her heart race. “Naughty indeed. And you must know what happens to naughty girls…they get their asses spanked red.”
She tried not to blush at the thought, desperate to keep her voice steady as she spoke, even as she felt herself go wet with the thought. Damn him. “Firstly, my wardrobe’s limited since I’m living out of a suitcase, and secondly, I’m not…naughty. It’s not my fault your mind’s always in the gutter.” Not that hers was any better since meeting Gabe.
“I could take you shopping…buy you all sorts of things…” With his eyes staying mostly on the road, he ran a finger along the bare skin of her leg, before inching her skirt higher, reminding her of his wandering hands when they were having dinner at his brother’s dinner party. “I could even help you get undressed.”
“Gabe…you’re supposed to be behaving yourself.” Yet his hand was wandering farther up her thigh, even as she halfheartedly tried to push it away. And damn, but she knew just how wet he’d find her if she didn’t put a stop to him.
“I don’t know that I’m capable of that, darling.” His fingers ran up the delicate skin of her inner thighs, urging them farther apart and making it nearly impossible for her not to shift in her seat to give him more access. He glanced at her with a sexy smile, before turning his eyes back to the road. “And look at you, trying to be so good—trying to deny what you truly want. You do realize that no one but the two of us would know… It could be our little secret.”
“You said you’d try to behave…” Her pulse raced even as her hips shifted
towards his hand, hoping he’d stop since she wasn’t strong enough to deny him.
“That was before you tried to seduce me.”
“I did not—” She gasped as his fingers pushed aside the thin lace of her panties and slipped into her slick, needy warmth.
“Oh…babe…” His fingers dipped into her as his palm pressed against her clit and she let out a needy moan that completely betrayed her.
“Don’t say it, Gabe.” She bit her bottom lip to keep another moan from escaping, her body shifting and shimmying at his touch, desperate for more.
“You’re so wet.” Damn it, he said it anyway, the erotic tone and need in his voice only making matters worse. Still driving, his fingers slipped in and out of her, coaxing her closer and closer towards her orgasm, all thoughts of pushing him away long gone. He stroked her clit while finger-fucking her, slipping in and out of her oh-so-easily, curling his fingers as he entered her until she was so incredibly close. “Maybe I should leave you like this, on the verge of coming all day long. Desperate for me. Maybe then you won’t be so eager to push me away.”
“Fuck, Gabe…don’t you dare.” She was teetering on the edge, and knew that her day would be pure torment if he left her like this.
“And here I thought you wanted me to keep my distance.”
Chapter Ten
Gabe couldn’t help but tease Hadley. His poor girl was trying to be so good, was trying to keep him at arm’s length, was trying to keep it professional. But how could they step away from what they’d started the first night they met? Clearly, he couldn’t—and neither could she.
She was riding that edge, and though he could have easily pushed her over it, he kept pulling back and changing things up so that she wouldn’t come. “Gabe…you’re killing me…please…”
“If I let you come, you’re no longer allowed to push me away. We’ll keep things professional in public, but when it’s just the two of us, I’m going to have you, anytime, anywhere, any way I can. ’Cause I know you crave it, babe. I know how badly you want me…how you long for me to touch you, fuck you, make you come… And don’t tell me you’re worried about your job, because I’m guaranteeing it’s safe. Without a doubt.” He’d make damn sure of it. Her boss might value his reputation, but everyone had a price and an instinct for survival, and Gabe had enough money and influence to keep her job safe—and if the guy wanted to play hardball, then there were yet other alternatives.
“Gabe…”
“Or you could just get yourself off…let me watch. I think I’d like that. I think I’d like to watch as you slip your own hand down between your legs…watch as your slender fingers disappear into that slick, warm pussy of yours…watch as you get yourself off while thinking of me fucking you. Because I know, babe…that’s exactly where your thoughts would be.” Fuck, the woman—his woman—was doing him in. His cock ached for her, ached to be buried in that tight little body of hers. “What’s it going to be, sweet girl? Do you agree to pursue this thing between us discreetly or do you let me watch as you get yourself off?”
“You’re such a bastard.” Yet there was no room for anger in her voice when there was so much need. Of course, she could easily tell him to go fuck himself and do neither, though he highly doubted she would.
Too distracted to be driving, and curious to see how she’d choose, he pulled over into a small spot designated for scenic viewing. He continued to stroke and finger her, torturously slow now as her hips pushed towards his hand and she bit her bottom lip, curses and needy moans escaping her lips.
Now that he could give her his undivided attention, he noticed how flushed her skin was, how her slender legs had fallen to the side to give him full access, how her head was tossed back with her eyes closed, as if she were searching out that orgasm, desperate for a release he was keeping just out of reach. “I might be a bastard, but it doesn’t stop you from wanting me, does it? And don’t try to deny it, sweetheart. Not when you’re so wet. Now answer me…what’s it to be?”
“Just let me come, Gabe. Please…” That was all he needed to hear. Increasing his pace and the pressure against her clit, he hit that soft bundle of nerves deep inside her, knowing it’d push her over.
“Sweetheart, I’ll take that as a yes to what’s behind door number one. You’re mine for a discreet affair.” And then before she could protest or pull away, he had her coming, screaming out as she came, her body quivering as her orgasm tore through her, their deal done.
“See? That wasn’t so hard, now was it? And just think…there’s plenty more fun to be had.” He slowly, deliberately, licked his fingers clean of her juices, as his eyes held hers captive, her taste so fucking sweet. She was his. And he’d be having another taste of her as soon as he managed to get her alone.
Hadley struggled to right her skirt into place, while tossing him a glare, her skin flushed and her breathing still heavy when she spoke. “You know that’s not a binding agreement.”
“Maybe not, but if it’s what you need to do to set your mind at ease about the fact that I’m going to fuck you from one mind-blowing orgasm to the next, feel free to blame me if it’ll help your conscience. Because I know you want me, Hadley. And I am going to have you, every way imaginable.” Gabe couldn’t fucking wait.
Hadley was still pissed off at him by the time they pulled into the parking lot of the diner, a gorgeous view of the ocean just beyond. It was a beautiful day for November in New England, but it was still cold and the wind whipping in off the water was brutal. “Come on, babe. It’s freezing out here.”
“I’m not happy with you, Gabe. You said you’d behave. But barely an hour later and you’ve got your hands between my legs.” She whispered the last part as they approached the diner, even though there was no one there to overhear them.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, wrapping an arm around her waist with one hand and brushing her cheek with the other. “Not just between your legs, sweetheart, but deep inside you, stroking you, fucking you, making you come…and I’ll be doing it all again soon. So I suggest you wrap that pretty little head of yours around it, because I don’t want to waste precious time arguing with you, when it could be spent with my cock buried in you. Are we clear?”
“Yeah. Crystal.” The glare she gave him would have most men backing off. But he wasn’t most men.
Though he was desperate to kiss her, he figured he should stick to his end of the bargain of being discreet. Letting her go, he held the door open for her. “After you, Ms. Moore.”
Her eyebrow perked up in question over her glare, but just for a minute, before stepping into the warmth of the diner. He was immediately hit with the familiar smell of coffee, bacon, and maple syrup. They settled into one of the old-fashioned booths, and were handed menus.
“Thanks, Lois.” There were only a handful of waitresses who worked the diner, but Lois seemed to never leave the place.
“You just missed your brother and his girlfriend not a half hour ago.” She held up the pot of coffee in question. Both he and Hadley nodded and flipped over their mugs. “Specials are on the board.” And then Lois was off to do her thing, giving them time to decide on what they’d have.
“I’m starving.” Hadley glanced at the specials before turning to the main menu, while absentmindedly doctoring her coffee with three packets of sugar and four creamers.
“Work up an appetite, did you?” He couldn’t help but smile, not bothered at all by yet another one of her glares. “Did you want some coffee with that?”
“Ha ha. Like I haven’t heard that one before. Just mind your own damn business and drink your own coffee, Mr. Ryker.” She set aside the menu and looked at him, her gaze intense. “I’m curious to know more about you and your brothers, with regards to being the subject of so many tabloids and social blogs.”
Gabe’s jaw clenched. He hated that the paparazzi seemed to pop up when he least expected them. “You saw the pictures, didn’t you? Well, you can’t believe everything you see or read, a
nd I refuse to stop living my life just so they won’t bother me.”
“I don’t care about the pictures themselves. But what I do wonder is if the attacks have less to do with business rivals and more to do with someone’s unhealthy fascination with your family. Good-looking brothers…everything from money to women…might be enough to push someone towards jealousy or obsession.” She took a long sip of her coffee and then added, “These tabloids reach a large number of readers. If the attacks are related to that instead of your business dealings, then it could be anyone. Any hate mail—or fan mail, even?”
“Great. Just what I want to hear. And no, no mail of that nature, that I’m aware of, though Nancy, our office manager, tends to handle all of that.” They paused to place their order, both of them ending up with the lumberjack special. “You know that’s a ton of food, right?”
“And…?” She looked at him as if waiting for him to say something more—something that would piss her off.
Well, he wasn’t that stupid, now was he?
“It was just a friendly warning, Ms. Moore. I meant nothing by it.” And if she could finish a lumberjack special at the Greasy Spoon, then he might just have to marry this girl.
Except that he did not just think that. No way. Not even as a joke. Clearly, he’d gone off the deep end—and he absolutely refused to think that there might be some sort of subliminal message hidden in there.
Pushing all insane thoughts from his mind, he continued. “Nancy might be weeding out any mail that isn’t business-related. We can ask her once we’re through here.”
“It might be nothing, but it’s worth looking into. Detective Murphy should be ready for me tomorrow, so I’m hoping that I’ll be able to start interviewing the suspects. Capaldi was the one mentioned in the file as the primary suspect. Anything you can tell me?” She picked up her mug and wrapped her slender hands around it, though her gaze was focused on him, as if she were taking in every nuance, every change in his facial features.
