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He slid his hands into the front pockets of his pants. “I’ve been pretty damned frustrated, actually,” he replied, his tone droll. “I wake up after a fucking amazing night with you only to find you gone, with no way to contact you.”
“I thought it would be easier on both of us if I just left.” Definitely easier on her so she didn’t get attached to a man she couldn’t have and had no time for. Her ex was proof that patience when dealing with her mess of a life only went so far.
His voice dropped a few deep, seductive octaves. “Given the choice, I wouldn’t have let you go.”
The honesty in his eyes and on his face wreaked havoc with her heart. “But we both agreed—”
“I changed my mind,” he said, cutting off her protest. “You changed my mind, Elle. And wanting a woman the way I want you hasn’t happened in a very long time.”
Her pulse fluttered wildly, and she swallowed hard as she stared into his unwavering gaze. She wasn’t sure how to reply to something so raw and revealing from a man who’d been the epitome of control during the course of their night together, so much so that she never would have imagined he’d felt anything more than lust and desire.
So, she changed the subject instead to something safer. “How did you find me? I’m assuming it wasn’t by accident or coincidence when you were perusing listings on our website.”
“No.” A small smile tugged at the corner of his sexy mouth. “Michael remembered who you were and the name on your invitation. I’ve had your information for a while, and I would have contacted you much sooner, but I had a family emergency that kept me tied up for the past several weeks.”
Concern rippled through her since she knew he’d lost his parents and he was close with his siblings. “Is everything okay with your family?”
He frowned for a moment, and she didn’t miss the dark shadows that filtered through his gaze. “Honestly, things were really bad for a while, but everything is fine now, thank God.”
“Good.” He seemed very affected by whatever had happened, and even though she was curious to know what had caused him so much worry, she didn’t press for more when he was being so vague to begin with. “I’m assuming you brought my other shoe?” she asked instead.
“I have it . . . just not with me,” he said, surprising her after what he’d told Penelope about meeting Elle here to return it. “Have dinner with me and I’ll give it back.”
“So, you’re holding my shoe hostage?” she asked, her voice brimming with mirth, and that bit of humor felt good after the shitty day she’d had.
He laughed at her question, and the deep, husky sound seemed to find its way to every one of her erogenous zones. “Maybe. I think it’s a fair trade after you ran out on me.”
She struggled with her better judgment. “Hunter . . . I really shouldn’t.”
He tipped his head, regarding her too flirtatiously as he reached out and entwined a strand of her hair around his finger, ensnaring her in more ways than one. “How badly do you want your shoe back?” he teased.
Good God, what a loaded question. How badly did she want the shoe? Almost as much as she wanted Hunter a second time. No, that wasn’t true. She’d sacrifice both of those heels to feel Hunter’s mouth on hers again, his hands on her body, then pinning her down while he took her to exquisite heights of pleasure . . .
“It just a meal, Just Elle,” he murmured, his husky voice so incredibly persuasive as he gave her hair a gentle tug that reminded her of how his fingers had felt tangled in the strands and pulling on them in the throes of passion. “I’m assuming you need to eat dinner, right?”
Why was she resisting spending a little more time with him when he gave her a brief reprieve from all her troubles? It was a Friday evening, and even though she had plans to be at the office t
omorrow, it wasn’t as though she was going to be out all night long. They’d go to a restaurant, where they’d be surrounded by people and she wouldn’t be able to give in to the desire welling up inside her for this man, and where she’d be safe from what her body craved.
Her stomach had thankfully settled, and if she was careful about what she ordered, she’d be fine, she reasoned. “Okay,” she agreed.
Slowly, gradually, sensually, he released her hair, his satisfaction obvious. “I’ll feed you, give you back your shoe, and anything beyond that is totally up to you.”
The man was temptation personified, and turning down what he was offering was incredibly difficult but necessary, because he could easily claim all her mental focus if she let him. He was a distraction she wanted in her life but definitely couldn’t afford to have right now.
“Just dinner,” she said, trying to sound firm. “And my shoe.”
He chuckled as if she’d just issued him a challenge. “We’ll see, Just Elle.”
The elevator pinged, and when the double doors slid open, the two women walked back out. Penelope wore that look that told Elle she’d sealed the deal, and Tempest’s excitement was nearly tangible.
“So, what do you think?” Elle asked Tempest, though the other woman’s expression already revealed what her answer would be.
“Oh, my God. This building is perfect.” She clasped her hands to her chest enthusiastically. “This place exceeded my expectations and I want it. Penelope is putting in an offer for me this evening before anyone else has the chance to see what a great building this is.”
Elle smiled at the other woman and voiced her curious question. “Do you mind me asking what you plan to do with the place?”
“I already asked,” Penelope cut in with a laugh. “She’s going to create erotic spaces and rooms for couples to fulfill their hottest, wildest fantasies. The name of the place is going to be Wilder Things.”
