Chapter Seven

Hunter

I like Dani Cross.

I mean, after what we did in her shop a few days ago, it’s obvious I’m attracted to her, but I like her, too. I wish I was with her instead of at dinner with a prospective new talent agent, even if it is the gorgeous Lila Strong. Ambient music plays overhead while idle gossip can be heard from nearby tables.

Lila and I have been hooking up for years. What began as a one-night stand in college developed into an actual friendship of sorts, the kind of friendship where I often find myself balls deep inside her at the end of any given night.

Our meet ups have become more spaced apart ever since she left New York to recruit talent in Tampa, but now she’s back nibbling on the carrot I’m dangling in front of her: a top-level position at Kiss Talent.

“Have you given any more thought to my proposal?”

She smiles, looking so damn elegant. She’s a human shark, with teeth and claws that are fiercer than anyone else in this game. That’s why I want her. “I could have told you on the phone, but…”

“Shit. You’re turning me down.”

“Quite the opposite, Hunter. I’m in.”

“You’re in?” I question, brows furrowed. “You’re coming back to New York?”

“The movers are already packing up my apartment,” she confirms.

“Holy shit,” I say loudly before leaning across the table with a sly smirk. “This is why Hunter Kiss is the king. I always win.”

She rolls her eyes and flips her long blonde hair over one shoulder. “Maybe we can both win tonight.”

I cock a brow.

“I mean, once I start working at Kiss, I assume we won’t be rolling around in the sheets anymore.”

“I think that would be best.”

“Well then…” She reaches across the table and takes my hand. “Before I sign on the dotted line, why don’t we engage in one final hurrah?”

* * *

Lila’s broken through so many glass ceilings because of her confidence, wit, and penchant for taking what she wants when she wants it. Taking the key from my hand, she unlocks the door to my penthouse and leads the way inside.

Like I said, we go way back.

The penthouse is dark this late at night, and I flip on the kitchen light so I can make us both a strong drink. She tosses her hair over one shoulder as she jumps onto the counter surface, kicking her long, tan legs over the edge.

She’s a total vixen and although she might have contemplated settling down at one point, that’s been long off her radar. Now, she’s all about her career. Just like me.

At least, just like I used to be.

Until a certain dark-haired angel barreled into my life, leaving me distracted and yearning for something more. Something that hasn’t been satisfied by our fast and hard coupling at Skyn. No, that small sample has simply fed my hunger for more and fueled my absolute determination to give her the orgasm that has eluded her all her life.

But the extent of my hunger is giving me pause and I wonder if it’s a good indication that I should simply walk away. From her. From her body. From her passion and fierceness and vibrancy. Hell, maybe even from her brother, if it comes down to it.

Retreat to fight another day, and all that. I never had to do it before, but maybe where Dani Cross is concerned, self-protection should be paramount. Hell, I barely knew her before I let her pierce my fucking nipple. What does that say about her ability to drive me out of my fucking mind?

Shifting and wincing at the sudden sensitivity of my nipple scratching against my shirt, I toss a few rocks of ice into two tumbler glasses and fill them halfway with straight whiskey; it’s Lila’s preferred drink. She likes her drinks just as strong as her men and I like my drinks equally strong.

I pass her a drink and lean against the opposite counter. “Are you going to miss Tampa?”

“I’m going to miss the salty sea,” she chuckles, “but I’m sure there will be enough salty ass men here once they realize I’m coming back. Their tears will probably be enough to fill an entire man-made ocean.”

“You’re a ballsmasher, for sure.”

She takes a gulp of whiskey—not a sip, a damn gulp. “I’m a woman in a man’s world. I have to be something, anything other than weak.”

“You’re certainly not weak,” I point out and take a sip of whiskey. “You know you scare the shit out of Luke, right?”

“That boy?” She cocks her head. “He’s such a damn sweetheart, and I’m going to enjoy making him uncomfortable.”

I laugh and set my whiskey down on the marble counter. “Just remember, you’re not in competition with anyone at Kiss. Anyone else in this industry is fair game.”

“What about you?” She reaches forward, gripping my tie with a show of strength and pulling me close to her, between her legs. “Are you fair game?”

I don’t know how to answer that. Technically I am, and of course there’s a part of me that thinks I’d be a fool to turn down what she’s offering me. The other part of me is occupied with thoughts of Dani, and despite my musings about retreat and self-protection just moments ago, part of me is already strategizing about when I can see her next and how fast I can deliver on my parting promise to rock her world. “You can’t handle this game,” I say with a cocky smirk.

“Really? I’ve handled it plenty before.” She pulls my face closer to hers so that our lips are a mere inch apart. Her icy blue eyes bore into mine just before she slides off the counter and turns so her back is to me. She looks at me over her shoulder, bends over slightly, runs one hand underneath her short black skirt, slides her black panties down her legs, wraps them around her finger and twirls them in the air before throwing them at my face. She hooks her finger over her shoulder, gesturing that I should follow her as she makes her way toward my bedroom.

I reach backwards for my glass and finish the whiskey in one go before following her.

When I step inside the dark space, she’s on the bed wearing nothing, completely bare underneath a thin satin sheet that outlines every curve of her body, but my eyes are focused on her breasts where the dark material hangs down just slightly over her chest.

“That was quick,” I say, closing the door behind me as I loosen my tie and begin unbuttoning my white shirt. “You must really be itching to sign this contract.”

Her lips curl into a devious smile. “I’m itching for something.”

“Yeah?” With my shirt unbuttoned, I leave it on and rip the sheets off her naked body with one strong flick of my wrist. She’s undeniably sexy.

I crawl over her until I’m staring down into her eyes. She reaches a hand up to caress my cheek softly, but she’s not a make love kind of person. She wants to fuck.

I slide one hand down to her bare hip and plant a short kiss against her lips before nuzzling her neck and ear. And then I freeze in place, force my eyes shut and try to shake away thoughts of Dani.

Why the hell am I thinking about her when I have this bombshell vixen underneath me?

“What’s wrong, Hunter?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I caress her bare thigh while nibbling against one earlobe. My palm begins to skate up her side, and my cock swells in my slacks, but there’s no sense of urgency. Of excitement.

“Stop,” she commands and pushes a strong hand against my chest so that we’re eye-to-eye. “You’re not into this. You thinking of someone else?” When I don’t say anything, it seems to confirm her suspicions. “Wow. I never thought I’d see the day you were hung up on a woman.”

“It’s not like that.” I roll onto my back, opting to stare at the ceiling instead of at her.

She shifts onto her side and props her head against her palm. “Then tell me what’s it like.”

“I barely know the girl.”

“So there is a girl.” She purses her lips and nods. “Hunter Kiss is caught up in feelings. Who would have thought?” When I glower at her, she laughs. “This is a good thing, Hunter. You can’t go your entire life being afraid of getting close to a woman.”

“Seriously?” I arch one brow as I glower at her. “Says the girl who’s never made it past the third date, not since—”

“That’s a choice,” she snaps before I can say his name.

“And mine’s not?”

“I’m more in love with my work than I could ever be with someone else. You on the other hand, I know there’s a part of you that wants to settle down but you’re too afraid to let someone in.”

“I want you to let me in.”

“If that’s true, I’m still open for the taking.” She smiles faintly. “Literally open.”

I stare at her. I tell myself to move. To take her. I don’t and understanding lights her eyes.

“Do you want to me to leave?”

I shake my head. “Nope. I’ll sleep on the couch and drive you to the airport for your flight.”

“Sounds good.”

I stand up and kiss her cheek. “Goodnight, Lila.”

“Night, Hunter. Wait a minute. Turn around.”

I do as commanded, unsure what’s about to go down. She pushes one side of my open shirt aside and she breaks out into a contagious laugh. “You got a nipple piercing!”

I look down and grimace at the metal bar stuck through my left nipple. “Another story for another night.”

I exit my bedroom and close the door behind me, and even then I can still hear her laughing.