A Dominant Man (42 page)

“Oh? Please, elucidate.”

He scoots
agilely to the center of the booth and leans in.

“You want to teach him a lesson.”

“What lesson might that be?”

“Not to fuck with you.” I gasp sharply as the words from the other night come back to me.
How is he able to get in my head like this? How does he know how I feel?
“I know how we could teach him a lesson he’d never forget.”

He slides nearer, so the space between us is practically nonexistent.

“I would never cheat on him. I can’t believe you would attempt to screw your brother’s girlfriend. You’re repugnant.”

Dante peers up at me through inky lashes, creepy grin firmly in place. His hand crawls over to mine, latches on, and he skims my knuckle with his thumb. I jerk back with no success.

“Release me instantly.” He holds on, and I wrench again, but his grasp cemented to my trembling palm. “Let go, or I’ll make you,” I snarl.

“Get your fucking hands off of her,” Damian growls over me, glowering at Dante with venom in his eyes.

Dante disconnects his large paw and leans back into the booth.

“Damian, as always
, your timing is impeccable. We’re having an intriguing conversation. You should join
us,
” he replies, sneering at Damian.

“
We’ll
pass. Come, Gabrielle.” He extends out his hand, which I eagerly grasp. Damian glares back at Dante, challenging him, waiting to strike at the slightest move. He tows me out, never speaking or glancing back at me.

My tummy turns in on itself, churning from a combination of hunger and the ominous silence. He tramps back towards The Huntsman with elongated strides. I prance double-time to keep up, and I’m still dragged along half the time.

We near the building then make an abrupt turn towards the dungeon. He yanks me along through the lobby and into the elevators where his infuriated silence is exacerbated by the close quarters. I broke a promise to him, and now I’ll pay the price.

The doors open, and he hauls me out across the marvelous foyer. He opens the door with a jolt and drags me into the privacy of the living room. He releases my hand and slams the door shut. He paces back and forth with his hands clasped into his hair.

“Do you enjoy disobeying me, putting yourself in harm’s way?” His agitation grates against my ears.

“No,” I snap snidely, like…well, a disobedient teenager.

“Why do it then? I told you to keep yourself clear of him, and you have lunch together?”

“I didn’t think…”

He halts and growls, “No, you didn’t. If you had, I wouldn’t have received a call from Banks informing me of your indiscretion…Gabrielle Sophia Hyde, I can’t believe you. You can be completely irrational sometimes!”

Crap. Full name. Code red.

“I was livid from your dominating fuckup. I wanted to get back at you for trying to keep me from Chase, switching my position, spanking and degrading me. I wanted to hurt you.”

“Smart. Put yourself in a shitty situation to punish me. How did that work out? What if I hadn’t found you? What if he…” He grimaces and shivers.

“What?”

“W
hat if he took advantage of you or got you alone to force himself onto you?”

“I had a handle on him.”

“No, you didn’t. He was handling you. Damn it, Gabrielle!”

I need to defuse this bomb, fast. Where’s the Bomb Squad when you need them?

“Are you going to punish me?”

“No. I think you’ve punished yourself enough.”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t have gone to lunch with him. It was a mistake. A mistake I won’t make again. You’re also right about him wanting what you have. He’s insidious. But what I did doesn’t change the fact that your actions were despicable and unwarranted.”

“Are you going to remain in the Editor position? If not, you can come work for me.”

“I’m going to stay in the position. I couldn’t work directly under you.”

“But that’s where I like you,” he utters with a low rumble. “Did it turn you on?”

“Excuse me?”

“Were you turned on, by the incident in my office?”

“What does that…”

“Answer me. Were you turned...”

“Yes, ok?! I was incredibly aroused, but you hurt me when you broke away. I wanted you, and you refused me while I lay half-naked and ready for you. I don’t enjoy being deprived of you, and I don’t want it used as punishment.”

Hunt’s body goes slack, his jaw unclenches, and fists unwind. He’s on me in a few
strides and takes me into his arms, mashing his fierce lips to mine, ceasing my mouth with his ardent tongue. His greedy hands roam and cling to my burning flesh, his lips travel to my neck where he kisses slow and concentrated.

I clamp my hands into his lush locks, tugging acutely as he raptures my neck, his demanding hands gripping my thigh and the hem of my skirt. He’s back on my lips with a relentlessness, penetrating my mouth
with his astounding tongue, demolishing me. He relinquishes and stares down at me with scolding eyes, his breathing strained.

“What are you doing?” I ask breathlessly.

“We can’t do this, Gabrielle. There isn’t enough time.” He cradles my face in his big hands and gives me a loving look.

“I’m sorry for my part in thi
s morning’s mishap in my office and switching your title without informing you of my decision to do so first. My whole morning has been horrendous knowing I hurt you, humiliated you, but I couldn’t control myself. I was angry about this evening, and I was dying to be near you, to fuck you whenever I desired. Instead, I’m stuck in my office while you’re downstairs with loverboy.”

“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t barge into your office, freak out, and slap you around. I should’ve come to you calmly to discuss how I felt.”

I slither my arms about his lean waist and hold myself close, continuing, “You’re not the only one. I was ready for you to take me. I wanted you badly. I would love to be hold-up with you at home, never leave our bed, but we can’t.”

I sigh. “We should get back to work before the boss whips our hides.”

He smiles seductively at my choice of words.

“Ah, but he takes immense pleasure in whipping your hide.”

“I do, too, but don’t tell him. I wouldn’t want him to get a big head…well, bigger anyway.”

T
he rest of the day flies by, considering I couldn’t get my racing mind off this afternoon. Hunt’s unsettling rant about my transgression left me bereft. I agreed to meet Damian at his office after work. Overall, my day goes exceptionally well. The best part, I didn’t see Olivia once. A relief after our horrifying encounter in Seattle yesterday.

At five, I gather my belongings and head for the elevators. When I arrive, I spot
Liam standing in reception looking authoritative, alert.

“Good evening, Miss Gabrielle.”

“Good evening, Mr. Liam.” I greet him, cracking a smile, and shaking my head. He smiles back and guides me into the waiting elevator.

He escorts me to Hunt’s office, saying nothing to his Assistants as we brush past them. He opens the door for me, and I nod appreciatively to him as I stride through. “Thank you,
Liam.”

He nods and closes the door behind me. Hunt rises from behind his enormous desk and meets me at the door.

“Hi,” he greets, cautiously assessing me.

“Hello…I missed you.”

He relaxes, tension draining from his face and body.

“I missed you, too. Come, I want to show you something.” He extends out a hand and I clutch it. He leads me over to his desk, and as we round it, he places his hand over my eyes.

“Is this necessary?”

“No, but I want to.”

He gingerly guides and sits me on his lap facing the desk. When he removes his hand, I gawk flushed at three photos in black frames scattered on his desk. I’m the common denominator in each one. I’m a brilliant red. I’m as red as a robin’s ass, mortified at having to look at myself.

The first two are the best only because Hunt’s in them. In the one on the far left side, he’s smiling as I drag him down the street on our quest for food. He looks so youthful and lighthearted. The day he propositioned me for a sex-based relationship, what seems a lifetime ago.

The middle one depicts us at the charity. Lizzy hired photographers for the evening, and it seems they caught us after dinner as we were heading for my bedroom. Hunt and I are walking across the lawn with the distant blurry twinkle of lanterns in the background. I’m glancing down, watching my footing as he attentively guides me with a hand on my elbow, the other hidden behind my back. He’s gazing at me, fire blazing in his eyes while he eagerly anticipates what lies ahead.

“That’s my favorite.” I nod.

“I love that one, but this is my favorite.” He points to the one I most dread. The one of only me, curled up on the couch admiring the view. It’s a close up of my profile. The fire causes my hair to glow around me, a divine light framing my captivated face.

“I’m not too keen on the subject, but the photograph itself is breathtaking. You’re a master of your crafts”

I feel him twitch against my behind.

“Gabrielle, you’re what makes it breathtaking. That’s you, and you’re an angel, my angel.”

He shifts in his seat.

“What? What’s wrong?” I ask grimly.

“I snapped a candid of you, and I’m second guessing displaying it.”

“What am I doing in it?” I twist my body and sit across his lap.

“How about I present it to you tonight? You can tell me if you approve or not.”

“Ok. I’m sure I’ll love it. You have a true gift.”

I’m anxious now, knotting my fingers in my lap and licking my plump bottom lip.

“Stop. I can’t stand to watch you behave like a trembling child. It’s below you. Besides, licking those lips is my job.”

He twines his arms around me, holding the back of my head, and leans in to plant a bracing, possessive kiss on my craving mouth, bruising my lips, making me dizzy with desire. He drags himself away, but not before snatching my swollen lower lip between his pearly white teeth and gliding his tongue along the clamped flesh. I moan and writhe on his lap as I become aroused, starving for his dark touch. I want him on his desk.

Apparently, my stomach is just as starved as my insatiable libido because it cries out a gut-wrenching, grumbling gurgle, breaking our impassioned encounter.

“Gabrielle, did you eat lunch?”

“No, you got me out of there before it arrived.”

“We need to get you home.”

“I’m fine. Ignore it, please. I’m going to dinner in a few hours, and I’d rather you fuck me on your desk, Mr. Hunt.”

His emerald gaze is dark with lust. He closes them and shakes his head, slowly. When they open, there’s only concern and focus.

“Another time.
I’m taking you home now, and I don’t want to hear an argument. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.” I frown.

W
e arrive back at my place, my stomach babbling incessantly.

“Go take a shower, and I’ll have soup ready for you when you get out.”

“Yes, sir.” I salute him and march out of the room. I jump in the shower and do a thorough wash-down. I stand under the warm water and allow its soothing touch to caress my sore rump and achy muscles, stress knotting them into pretzels.

I get out and throw on my fluffy white robe. I head back out and find Hunt sitting on the couch with one leg tucked under
his rear. He’s dressed in loose black sweatpants and a white tee, looking absolutely fuck-worthy. Then again, he looks that way in whatever he’s wearing.

He’s chatting with
Maya about tonight’s plans when she notices me. “Hey! How was your first day?”

Hunt’s wide eyes dart to mine,
and he slowly shakes his head.

“Hectic. I’ll tell you later.”

“There’s a mug of soup on the counter,” Hunt remarks.

I grab it, walk over to the couch, and nuzzle into my nook. He slinks his arm over my collarbone and holds me close.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” she exclaims, shoving her hand into her back pocket and pulling out my cell, which she hands back. “You left this here today. Julie called while you were at work, and I invited her to join us tonight. She’s bringing Sloan along.”

“You left your phone?” Hunt asks disapprovingly.

“Crap. I know. Don’t say it. Unacceptable.”

He chortles.

“Well, it is.”

“Are you ok with
Julie coming along?” Maya inquires.

“Yeah, except I don’t think
Chase will be as enthused. Jules has a thing for him, but he…”

“Wait.
Julie has the hots for Chase?” Maya appears to regret her decision to invite her.

“He doesn’t feel the same,
” I reassure.