Possessed by Passion (15 page)

Chapter 16

“T
his is Dr. Steele. May I help you?”

Hunter loved the sexy sound of Tyson's voice. “Yes, Dr. Steele, this is Hunter and you can definitely help me.”

She heard the richness of his chuckle and wished it didn't make her pulse rate increase. “And what can I do for you, Ms. McKay?”

“I thought we'd take in a movie tonight. Anything you prefer seeing?”

There was silence on his end and Hunter knew why. Rumor had it that if Tyson Steele took a woman out, his bedroom was as far as they got. This week wouldn't be status quo for him. He'd said she could set the ground rules and she had.

“Doesn't matter,” he finally said. “Anything you want to see will be fine with me. I'll pick you up at seven. Is that a good time for dinner and a movie?”

She was surprised at his suggestion of dinner. “Yes, seven is fine. I'll see you then.”

“And, Hunter?”

“Yes?”

“Bring your dancing shoes. I want to take you dancing after the movie.”

He wanted to take her dancing? “Okay.” After ending her call with Tyson, Hunter leaned back in her office chair as she remembered his visit to her apartment last night. No booty call, he'd just wanted to hear her sing. How strange was that? Had he asked to spend the night she probably would have let him. But he hadn't asked.

She hated admitting it, but Tyson Steele was beginning to confuse her. Like his suggestion of dinner, dancing and him picking her up. She'd honestly assumed that he would ask what time the movie started and say he would meet her there. Anything else would constitute a real date, and Tyson Steele didn't do real dates. He'd told her that himself during their little bedroom talk that night over wine and cheese. He claimed dating would encourage women to get the wrong ideas regarding the nature of his intent.

So why this sudden change of behavior? She could only assume that he figured she knew the score so she wasn't anyone he had to worry about. He was trying to work her out of his system and nothing more.

She looked at her watch. If Tyson was going to take her to dinner, a movie and dancing, she needed to make a few shopping stops before going home. Her goal was to make this a week neither of them would forget. And tonight was the kickoff.

* * *

“You dance as well as you sing,” Tyson whispered to Hunter hours later when he led her to the center of the floor for another dance. This one was a slow number. About time, he thought, as he pulled her into his arms. He was beginning to think line dancing was all they'd be doing tonight.

“Thanks. I love to dance.”

Tyson could tell. Even when they'd sat out a few she had moved from side to side in her chair, keeping time with the music.

He had picked her up promptly at seven and when she opened the door he had to stand there for a moment to get his bearings. From head to toe, she looked fabulous. And he had told her so many more times than he probably should have tonight. He totally liked her short, tight-fitting dress and killer heels.

They had dined at Toni's, an Italian restaurant located in the heart of the city. Over dinner she had told him about the additional clients she had acquired and again thanked him for the three he had referred. He was glad everything seemed to be working out for her.

Tyson wrapped his arms around her, loving the feel of holding her as they moved slowly around the dance floor. Tonight had been great and he had enjoyed her company. He'd even enjoyed the movie she'd chosen for them to see. He was surprised to discover that, like him, she liked Westerns. This one had been one of the good ones and had held his attention most of the time. Hunter held it all the other times. He had to admit he'd enjoyed sitting beside her in the theater, sharing popcorn with her. Holding her hand.

She pressed her cheek against his chest as they slowly swayed to the music. Their movements were so slow that at times it appeared neither of them was moving. And their bodies were so close he could feel her every curve. He was getting sexually charged just thinking about tonight and how it would end. Again, she'd made it clear that she would not spend a single night this week in his bed, and he had no problem wearing out the mattress at her place if that's what she preferred.

Resting his cheek against the top of her head, he couldn't help but think there was more to his relationship with Hunter than just great sex. Dinner and the movie had proven that and he looked forward to spending more time with her outside the bedroom this week.

When he felt her stiffen in his arms, he glanced down at her. “You all right?”

She glanced up and met his gaze. “My ex is here.”

Tyson lifted a brow. “Your ex? Here?”

“Yes. I heard he might be coming to Phoenix on business, and I can only assume that's why he's here. He just walked in with a group of men.”

Tyson nodded. “If his presence makes you uncomfortable, we can leave.”

She shook her head. “No. He's seen us and maybe that's good thing.”

“Why?”

“My mother-in-law overheard Carter's plan to contact me while he's here and play on my heartstrings.”

“Your heartstrings?”

“Yes. He has this crazy notion that since I hadn't dated since our divorce that I'm still in love with him and would take him back, even after all he's done.”

Tyson didn't know what all the man had done, but just from the time he had spent with Hunter he knew she felt only loathing for her ex. “You say he's seen us?”

“Yes. In fact he's sitting at the table, staring at us now.”

“Good.”

Tyson pulled Hunter closer into his arms, leaned down and covered her mouth with his.

* * *

Hunter suddenly sat straight up in bed. When she saw a naked Tyson sleeping beside her, she realized it hadn't been a dream at all. They'd gone to dinner, a movie and dancing. The evening had gone great. Not even seeing Carter had put a damper on things, because Tyson had refused to let it.

Although it had been pretense, he had gone out of his way to give the impression that the two of them were a hot item. In addition to kissing her in the middle of the dance floor, when they had returned to their table Tyson had taken her in his lap and hand-fed her the chips and dip they'd ordered. She couldn't help but enjoy Tyson's attentiveness, even if it was playacting. He had lavished her with attention and affection. Tonight Tyson had made her feel significant, appreciated and desired right before Carter's eyes.

From the angry look she'd seen on her ex's face, he'd gotten the message Tyson had intended. The message that she belonged to Tyson. And in a way she did...even if it was for just a week. They had left the nightclub only after Carter had done so, satisfied their mission had been accomplished.

The moment they had entered her apartment Tyson had swept her off her feet and carried her into the bedroom. There he had undressed her and his skilled body had taken her over the edge. Not once. Or twice. Three times before they'd finally drifted off to sleep.

Smiling now, she settled back down in bed and snuggled her body deeper into his. Why was she allowing herself to get wrapped up in the moment?

And why tonight, when she had seen Carter again after all this time, had she felt nothing...absolutely nothing? It seemed her mind, body and soul refused to waste any more emotions—loathing or otherwise—on the man she'd spent eight years trying and failing to satisfy. But now, thanks to Tyson, she knew the failures weren't her fault, but were Carter's.

She drew in a deep breath. In Tyson's mind, he had wanted another week with her because he believed he was possessed by passion. And she would admit the two of them could generate a lot of that. But now she could finally admit to herself the reason she'd agreed to a week with him. She had fallen in love with him.

It really didn't matter how it happened or when but she knew it had. She wanted to believe it happened the first time they'd made love. He had treated her like a woman who deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. But he'd gone even further by treating her like a woman who deserved to be appreciated. Each and every time they made love he'd made her feel special, like a woman worth having, even in the bedroom.

It didn't bother her that he didn't return her love or that he would never know her true feelings for him. Loving him was her secret. After this week was over and he returned to his world—the one filled with all those other women—she would always have these precious memories.

“You okay?”

She glanced over at Tyson. She hadn't meant to awaken him. “Yes, I'm fine.”

“Baby, I know you're fine. That dress you wore tonight showed just how fine you are.”

She chuckled. “You liked my dress?”

“I told you I did. A number of times. I like every outfit you put on your body. And I like your body, as well.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, I do.”

She eased out of his arms to straddle him. “Your erection is rock-hard. I definitely want to put something like that to good use.”

“And your girls wants my attention,” he said, reaching upward to cup the twin mounds in his hands. “I plan to put them to good use, as well.”

“Not before I give you a little attention, Mr. Steele.”

And then she eased down in bed and took his shaft into her mouth. He grabbed hold of her shoulders to pull her back up, but she figured the feel of her lips and tongue pleasuring him enticed him to change his mind. Instead he let his fingers tunnel through the curls on her head as he began groaning deep in his throat.

“Hunter! You got to stop. I'm about to come.”

She recalled giving him a similar warning one night that he'd ignored just like she intended to do. Instead of stopping, she took him deeper and suckled him right into an orgasm.

“Hunter!”

A short while later she lifted her head and looked up at him and smiled. In her heart she knew she loved him but he would never know.

“You, Hunter McKay, are a naughty girl,” he said throatily.

“And you, Tyson Steele,” she said, licking her lips, “are one delicious man.”

* * *

“Tell me about your ex-husband,” Tyson said, holding Hunter in his arms. It had taken him a minute to recover from the orgasm she'd given him. It had been explosive and left his entire body reeling.

Hunter lifted her head and he could see the surprise in her eyes. If she found his request odd, then she wasn't alone. He'd never asked a woman about her ex. Usually her past didn't matter. It certainly didn't have any bearing on the present. But with Hunter it mattered. He'd seen Carter Robinson tonight and other than what Eli had told him, Tyson didn't know everything the man had done.

She didn't say anything for a long moment, and then she finally spoke. “I guess after tonight I owe you an explanation.”

“No explanation needed. You told me why you needed him to see us together. The heartstrings thing. But I want to know about him. I'm having a hard time understanding what man in his right mind would let such a passionate woman like you get away.”

She snuggled deeper in his arms, as if she needed his closeness to tell him what he wanted to know. “That's just it. Carter never thought of me as passionate.” She paused a moment. “We met at a party a couple of years after I finished grad school. We dated for a year and he asked me to marry him. I thought we were perfect together. We shared the same profession and the same dreams and goals. Three years after we were married I discovered he was having an affair with a former client. He asked for my forgiveness, said it wouldn't happen again. But it did. By then he didn't care that I knew and said if I left him I would have more to lose than he did. I believed him, so I stayed, although we didn't share a bed. I moved into the guest room.”

She drew in a deep breath. “Things continued that way for two years until I hired a private investigator who uncovered a number of things, including the fact that while I slept in the guest room upstairs, Carter would on occasion sneak his mistress into the house to spend the night with her in our bed.”

Anger flared through Tyson at the thought of any man disrespecting his wife that way. No wonder she had a problem with sharing a bed with him where she'd known other women had been before her. “Did you confront him about it?”

“Yes, and I told him I was divorcing him. He laughed, and said I didn't have the backbone to do such a thing. He saw how wrong he was the day he was served the divorce papers. Everyone turned against me for divorcing him. His family. People I thought were our friends. And then on top of all that, he set out to hurt me by taking my clients and making things difficult for me in Boston.” She drew in a deep breath. “In a way my brother's request that I come home to help with our parents gave me the perfect excuse to return to Phoenix to start over.”

While he listened, Hunter also told him how during her marriage her ex had tried eroding what little self-confidence she had. How he had tried making it seem that his involvement with other women was her fault and how he'd tried controlling her. “And to think Carter actually believed I could still love him and he could get me back after all he did.” He could hear the sadness in her voice as she spoke.

Tyson didn't say anything as he continued to hold her in his arms. He felt a huge sense of protectiveness swell inside him where Hunter was concerned, and knew at that moment he would never give any man the chance to hurt her ever again.

Chapter 17

“W
hat's this I hear about you making a fool of yourself with a woman, Tyson? You've been seen around town on several occasions, taking her to dinner, movies, dancing and concerts. I even heard you attended church with her one Sunday.”

Tyson had known when he'd opened the door to find Mercury standing there that there had to be a reason for his visit. “And what of it?”

“Acting all infatuated with a woman is not like you.”

Yes, Tyson agreed. Mercury was right, it wasn't like him. But he had discovered his interest in Hunter had gone beyond just the physical. It was a lot more than being possessed by the passion they could generate, as he'd assumed. What was supposed to last only one week was now going into its third week. Neither he nor Hunter had brought up the fact that the one-week time limit had expired. They both seemed to be intentionally overlooking it.

Because of the ground rules she'd established, all their time together hadn't been in the bedroom. They were doing other things, activities he would not have bothered doing with a woman. In addition to movies, dinner and dancing, they'd taken walks in the park, gone to the zoo, tried mountain climbing...and he'd even made an appearance at church. During the course of that time he had gotten to know Hunter in ways he hadn't thought possible. He knew her likes, her dislikes, things she tolerated and things she considered not up for negotiation. Likewise, he'd opened himself up to her as well. He felt comfortable telling her about his days at the hospital, and he even let her in on the Steele brothers' early plans for their parents' fortieth wedding anniversary.

This morning before leaving her bed he had been able to put the final piece of the puzzle in place. Now he knew why she had gotten under his skin, why he'd let her stay there and why he hadn't been able to get her out of his system. And why with her he felt possessed by passion. Bottom line was that he had fallen in love with her.

He'd tried convincing himself it was only lust, but he knew that wasn't the case each and every time they made love. Now he fully understood how Galen, Eli and Jonas felt about the women they'd fallen in love with and married. And as hard as it was to believe, he had no problem being included in that group, mainly because he couldn't consider his life without Hunter as a part of it.

“Tyson, are you listening to me?”

He really hadn't been. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked who she is.”

Tyson had no problem giving his brother a name. “Hunter McKay.”

Mercury lifted a brow. Tyson could tell from his brother's expression he was recalling the time Hunter's name had come up during one of their parents' Thursday night dinners.

“Well, I hope you have a good reason for what you're doing.”

He met his brother's stare. “Trust me. I do.”

After Mercury left, Tyson knew exactly what he needed to do. He pulled out his cell phone to place a call. “Hi, Mom. Would it be a problem to set out an extra place setting for dinner tonight? You will be happy to know I've found the woman who will be permanently filling one of those three empty spots at the table.”

* * *

“The flowers are beautiful.”

Hunter had to agree with Pauline. The huge bouquet of red roses that had been delivered to her that morning was simply beautiful. She didn't have to read the card to know that Tyson had sent them. They had gone over their one-week agreement and were now into a third. She figured their time together had come to an end and the flowers were his parting gift to her.

Before leaving her apartment this morning he'd asked if he could decide where they would go tonight. She didn't have a problem with his request. He hadn't said where they would be going. All he'd said was to dress casual and be ready at six.

Then she had arrived at work to see the flowers sitting on her desk. It had been years since she'd received flowers and like she told Pauline they were simply beautiful, although their suspected meaning caused a pain in her heart.

After Pauline left Hunter's office she sat behind her desk and drew in a deep breath. She'd been hoping...

What? That like her, Tyson would continue to ignore that they'd gone beyond the week they were to spend together? That he would claim she still wasn't out of his system, that he still felt possessed by passion and wanted more time together? Maybe that's what she was hoping, but unfortunately, the flowers were a clear indication that he had gotten over her and was now ready to move on.

Once again she had fallen in love with a man who would never truly love her in return. Story of her life, it seemed. But she would get over it because whether Tyson realized it or not, these past three weeks had meant everything to her. They had reinforced her belief in herself and she owed that to him.

He had made every single day with him special. Instead of protesting about anything she'd had on their list for them to do, he had readily embraced every activity. Whether it was going out to dinner, movies, concerts or dancing, he didn't seem to have a problem being seen with her. He'd even kept his word to her mother and gone to church with her. And because they had sat together, more than one pair of curious eyes had been on them.

The buzzer on her desk sounded. “Yes, Pauline?”

“Dr. Steele is on the line.”

“Thanks.” Was he calling to cancel tonight? Had he figured there was no need to wait until later to end things between them?

“Yes, Tyson?”

“Have you had lunch yet?”

“No.”

“Good. I'll pick you up in a few minutes. There's something I want you to see.”

He sounded rather mysterious but she went along with him. “Okay.”

She hung up her phone, wondering what Tyson wanted her to see.

* * *

“Where are we going?”

Tyson smiled over at Hunter. He figured she would be curious since he hadn't given her much information. They had left the Phoenix city limits and were now headed toward the outskirts of town. “I think I've mentioned my cousin Morgan Steele to you before.”

“He's the one who's the mayor of Charlotte, right?”

“Yes. His wife, Lena, owns a real estate company that has expanded into several states, including this one. I hired her to find some property in the country for me.”

Hunter raised a brow. “Why?”

“To build that house you designed for me.”

She frowned. “Tyson, we both know why you had me draw up those plans.”

“Do we?” He knew Hunter thought she had things figured out.

“Of course. That was just a part of your plan to seduce me.”

“Was it?”

Her frown deepened. “Okay, Tyson. What kind of game are you playing?”

A smile touched his lips. “No game. What if I told you I was dead serious about those house plans?”

“That would be news to me. Until today you haven't mentioned those plans since I gave them to you over a month ago.”

Tyson brought his car to a stop in front of a wooded piece of property. He looked over at her. “I guess you can say I was waiting for a good time to do so.”

The male in him appreciated her outfit. Today she was wearing another dress and although it wasn't as short as he'd like, it still showed off her gorgeous legs.

He glanced out the car window. “This is the property Lena found for me. What do you think?”

* * *

Hunter glanced around. She thought the land was pretty nice and told him so. Even from the car she could see a view of the mountains. The drive hadn't been too far from town, which wouldn't make his commute to the hospital too much of a hassle. Once he got on the interstate it would be a straight shot and he could get to work probably within twenty minutes.

“It's twenty-five acres on a private road,” he said, intruding into her thoughts. “Not another house around for at least ten miles, and I think I'll like the seclusion. There's a huge lake on the property and plenty of trees.”

“I think you'll like the seclusion, too,” she said, not missing the excitement in his voice.

He pushed the button to extend his seat back to stretch out his legs. “Any ideas how the house will fit on it?”

Hunter shrugged as she glanced out the window again. “It shouldn't be a problem if you face the front of your house to the east. That way your bedrooms can take advantage of the view of the lake and mountains from any window.”

He nodded. “I'm thinking of increasing the square footage to add a few more bedrooms. When I marry and have children I want to make sure they have plenty of space.”

Personally, Hunter thought the house she'd designed had more than enough space already. However, if he thought he needed more than that, it was his business. She tried dismissing from her mind that this was the first time he'd ever mentioned a wife and children. He'd claimed he had no interest in ever getting married. Even when he'd given her specifics for what he wanted in a home, the subject of a wife and children had never entered the equation. “You're the client,” she said. “I can modify the plans any way you want.”

“I hope I'm more than just a client to you, Hunter.”

Hunter nibbled on her bottom lip, not sure how to address that comment. She couldn't help but remember the roses sitting on her desk and what they probably meant.

“Thanks for the roses, by the way.”

“You're welcome. Glad you liked them.”

She drew in a deep breath. Even now while sitting in a parked car in a secluded area she could feel the chemistry between them. It seemed over the past few weeks, instead of diminishing, their physical attraction had gotten stronger. That would probably account for why their lovemaking was even more intense every night.

Tyson claimed he wasn't playing games, but for some reason she felt that he was. She was about to tell him so when he said, “You didn't respond to what I said about me being more than a client to you.”

She studied him and then decided to turn the tables on him. “My response depends on whether I'm more than an architect to you.”

* * *

Tyson knew he could put her mind to rest about that and intended to do so. He wasn't sure how she felt about him, but he figured any woman who'd given him as much of herself as she had during the time they'd spent together had to feel something for him.

He reached out and took her hand. “Hunter, there's something I need to say.”

She pulled her hand away from him. “You don't have to say anything. I got the message with the roses.”

He raised a brow. “And just what message did you get?”

“That you want us to end things.”

He didn't say anything for a minute, and then he asked, “And you got that message from me sending you roses?”

“I had an employee back in Boston years ago. When her boyfriend broke up with her, instead of sending her a ‘Dear Jane' letter, he sent her a dozen ‘Dear Jane' roses.”

“And you figured that's what I did?”

“Isn't it?”

“No. You're right about me wanting us to end things...at least, wanting to end this phase of our relationship. But only for a new beginning.”

She nodded. “I get it. You want another week.”

He chuckled. “No, Hunter. I want forever.” Tyson watched her face and wasn't surprised when shock spread across her features. He was tempted to lean over and kiss it right off her face.

“Forever?”

He nodded, watching her closely. “Yes, forever.”

She evidently wasn't sure they were on the same page, because she asked, “You mean forever as in till death do us part?”

He chuckled. “Yes, that pretty much sums it up.”

She stared at him like he had suddenly developed some kind of mental problem. “Why?”

“That's easy to answer. Because I've fallen in love with you.”

She continued to stare at him for a long moment and then she shook her head. “That's impossible.”

“And why is it impossible?”

“B-because you're Tyson Steele.”

“I know who I am.”

She glared at him. “Need I remind you that you're a man who goes through women quicker than you change your socks?”

“Last time I looked you're the only woman I've been with in well over a month now. I told you that I hadn't desired another woman since that night I ran into you at Notorious.”

“But our relationship has been only physical.”

“I beg to differ. Think about what we've been doing for the past few weeks. What we've shared. I've enjoyed spending time with you and doing things that had nothing to do with the bedroom.”

When she didn't say anything he added, “I appreciate the time that we've gotten to know each other. Now more than ever I know you're the woman I want in my life.”

When she didn't say anything but continued to stare at him, he pressed on. “I know I've laid a lot on the table and you need time to take it all in. I also know you probably don't reciprocate my feelings but I feel strongly that one day you will.”

* * *

Hunter could not believe the words Tyson had spoken. He loved her? Really loved her as much as she loved him? She tried hard to fight back tears. “But I already do,” she said, swiping the tears that were determined to fall anyway.

“You do what?”

“Reciprocate your feelings. I love you, too, Tyson. I think I fell in love with you the first time we made love. You made me feel so special. Like a woman who was truly appreciated. But not in a million years did I think you would, or could, love me back. You have...shall we say, a history with women.”

“Yes, I do. But you effectively destroyed that history. You're the only woman I want. The only woman I could and will ever love.”

More than anything she wanted to believe him, but hadn't Carter told her that same thing? But then, hadn't she discovered that Tyson wasn't anything like Carter?