A Dominant Man (50 page)

“Fuck,” he murmurs. His tense face slackens as he seems to empathize with Walker or perhaps it’s something else entirely.

“
Mr. Cahill will be there?” His voice is lower, calmer.

“Yes. I figured it would help if you knew I wasn’t alone with him.”

“It doesn’t, but I know if I tell you not to, you will anyway. I may as well go with it.” He sounds defeated.

I hate hearing the disappointment in his voice, knowing I made him feel that way, but I need to do this. It’s not just for Walker. It’s for me, too. I need to close those chapters of my life if I’m to have any chance at a happy future with Hunt.

“Thank you for understanding…Does this mean you’ll attend the art show with me?”

He exhales and rolls his eyes dramatically. “Yes, we can make an appearance before the party.”

“Good,” I giggle out. “I was terrified at the idea of going alone.”

“Yeah, like I would let you.” He takes a big bite of my chocolate chip muffin. “Mmmm. Wow, Gabrielle, these are fucking delicious. Best muffin I ever had…Besides the moist one between those thighs.”

“You have to say that,” I retort, pinching a piece off. “You’re my boyfriend.” I toss it in my mouth and savor the chocolate melting over my tongue.

“I would never tell you anything that wasn’t true.” He takes another bite and moans. “Seriously, these are amazing. Have you ever considered selling them? Starting up a bakery?”

“When I was a kid, I did. You really think they’re good enough to sell?”

“Yes,” he says, sucking chocolate off his thumb. “I would pay for these.”

“Thanks.” I check the clock on the microwave. “I have a big day ahead of me. Which reminds me, I need to call Dr. White and Brooke.”

“You’re still hung up on that? I figured you would be over it by now.”

“Nope. I’m going to call her in the morning, but I should leave a message for Doc tonight.”

“What kind of doctor is he? Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’m fine physically. He’s my shrink. I need an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. I need to see him before I make my final decision.”

“I’m not comfortable with you speaking about me or us to anyone, let alone a fucking shrink.”

“Why can’t I talk about us? I’m not going to tell him about our lifestyle or your past. What I know about it anyway.”

“No, that’s what Brooke is for,” he murmurs satirically, taking a spoonful of vibrant multicolored speckles into his mouth.

“Get over yourself.” I jump off the counter and toss my bowl into the sink, striding out of the kitchen and through the living room. I make it halfway when his hand gently but firmly grasps my hand. He presses my back against his hard torso and wraps me in his arms.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers into my ear, his warm, silky breath brushing past it. “I’m just scared. She knows who I am. I don’t want her to tell you about our history. I want to be the one to do so. I want to reveal my demons to you.”

I clasp my hands around his forearms and lean my head into his chest.

“If you don’t want me to find out through her, then you need to tell me. I want to hear it from you. I crave for you to let me in. How can I make a proper decision if I don’t know whom I’m moving in with? I don’t need to know about your uncle or parents, not now anyway, but your exploits are another issue entirely.”

“I can’t talk about it.” I roll my eyes and sigh. “But I can show you.”

My eyes spring over my shoulder to his calm, dark seas of green. “Show me? How?”
Dear god, please don’t let him have video footage.

I turn to face him.

“I will demonstrate on you. After the party, we will go back to the apartment, and I’ll perform for you, on you. Would you like to
really
meet Hunt?”

Without hesitation, I reply, “Yes, I want to meet him.”

“Then you shall.”

“Why can’t you present him to me now?”

“I need time to mentally prepare myself. I made the decision to put him away when I chose to be with you. I never wanted you to see how dark I could be, but this is what you want, and I promised to give you whatever you desired.”

“Thank you.”

“I am warning you. You will be handled just as they were, and I need you to fully comprehend the scenario.”

“I understand,” I reply, enfolding my arms about his waist and resting my head on his broad chest. “I am your girlfriend. You love me, and you’re only giving me a taste of who you were to appease me.”

He sweeps his finger under my chin and lifts my face to peer into his sobering eyes. “Yes, but I won’t be holding back. I don’t want you take it personally.”

“I won’t. I want this.”

“You will do as I say. Anything I say.”

I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his chin.  

“Anything you desire, Master.”

I
managed to get an appointment between patients at five thirty with Dr. White. It won’t be a full session, but I just need a few minutes of his time anyway, so it worked out. I sent Brooke a text this morning about getting together. She sent me one back, and we made plans for Sunday brunch.

Work is hectic. I’m swamped, but I make a huge dent in my workload by lunch, and I’m able to relax…to an extent. I head over to Chase’s office at five minutes to twelve. He’s deep in conversation on the phone with a ton of paperwork scattered across his desk. He glances up at me and taps the face of his watch with a shake of the head. I know what he’s telling me, and I wave to him on my way out.

Great. Hunt is going to be pissed. I should send him a text to inform him of the change in plans.

I type out a quick text and hit send. I don’t hear back from him by the time I reach the lobby and take it as a sign he’s probably busy. I exit the elevators and stride across the enormous marble lobby toward the doors. There is a lot of traffic rushing through the lobby.

The crowd dissipates and Walker’s tall, fit frame emerges from the hustling mob, standing by the front doors. He’s wearing the hell out of a black blazer, a formfitting, gray V-neck tee, dark jeans, and slip-on dress shoes. His normally messy auburn hair is slicked back, and his light blue eyes shine at me. His beautiful, straight white teeth displayed proudly between two abysmal dimples as he smiles wide.

I forgot how gorgeous he was, and now I’m regretting my decision to have lunch, but it’s too late for that. I walk up to him, and he opens his arms, inviting me in. I step into him, and he flings them around me.

“You look amazin’,” he says in that delectable brogue, nearly crushing me in his strong grip. I’m in a simple, gray sheath dress with black pumps, and my hair is up in a sleek ponytail. He pulls away and gazes down at me.

“Thanks. So do you. You’ve changed.”

“Eh, not really. It’s just clothes and combed hair. I’m still the same Walker I’ve always been. You on the other hand are far different from the girl who left me over a year ago.”

“I guess. I assume you want to ask me why.”

“Aye, but not this second. Come on, let’s get some lunch and catch-up. I’m starvin’.”

He places his large hand on the small of my back, and an electricity sizzles between us. I look up at him wide-eyed, chewing at my upper lip. I step aside slightly, and his hand falls away, but his eyes never do. He surveys me closely and after a moment of awkward, sexual tension, he speaks, “After you.”

He opens the glass door for me, and I walk out with him just behind me. I start walking down the street, and he whistles at me. When I turn, he’s leaning against a brand new, black Mercedes McLaren.

“Need a ride, hot stuff?”

“Sure. Are you going my way?” I kid back.

“I’ll go wherever you want, love.” He’s teasing, but he has a serious, sexual gaze.

Shit.

“I have a boyfriend,” I blurt, and his gaze lightens.

“I’m not stealin’ you away. I just want to have lunch. Come on, love, hop in.” He opens my door, and I hesitantly clamber in. He walks around and slides into the driver’s seat. “I’m glad we could do this,” he comments.

“Me, too…So, are you going to tell me how the hell you managed to afford this fine automobile?”

“I’ve been doin’ extremely well lately.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” I gesture my hand at him and about the car.

“Buckle up,” he commands, and I realize there
is
something different about him. It’s emanating from the inside out. Whatever
it
is changed him.

I harness myself in, and he starts her up. Just as we’re about to pull into the busy lunchtime traffic, I look out my window and spot Hunt on the sidewalk with…
oh, fuck
…Olivia! He gawks at me with confusion, betrayal, and anger splashed across his beautiful face.

I notice her hand slowly rubbing his bicep as she leans in, giggling and whispering god knows what into his ear.
Whore! Get your fucking hooks off my man!
I’m beyond furious. I want to jump out of this car and tear her ass apart, but I won’t. Instead, I take Walker’s hand in mine and clasp it tightly. He looks up at me from under his dark lashes with a twisted smirk adorning his lips. I smile back at him coyly then turn my focus on Hunt with narrowed eyes. I see the rage simmering under the surface, and I can’t resist the urge to make him boil over. I mouth fuck you and flip him the bird.

“Gabrielle,” Hunt calls, but it’s too late. We take off, and we’re flying down the road when my cell goes off. I grab it out of my bag and see Hunt’s name displayed over a picture of him sleeping soundly. I hit ignore and shut off my phone, tossing it back into my purse. I lean back into my seat and stare blankly out the window while my stomac
h ties itself into acidy knots.

W
e decide to eat down at Fisherman’s Wharf. We dine at a great seafood restaurant at the end of the pier overlooking the bay and the Golden Gate, which only reminds me of last night. I smile each time I look at it, then I picture Hunt standing outside The Huntsman with
her
, and I burn with rage.

Suddenly, my seething reveries are busted through when Walker speaks, “I was devastated when you left me.” His voice is deep, husky.

The comment creates an awkward tension in the air, but it’s welcome because it takes my mind off Damian.

“I know. I’m so sorry for hurting you. I never wanted to. You must know that.”

“I do,” he sighs. “I’m not here for an apology or explanation. I know why you left me.”

“Why? What are you here for?”

“You didn’t love me,” he says simply.

“No, no, you have it wrong. I loved you very much, but you must understand I was in an extremely bad place, and I didn’t know how to express it. Instead of telling you what I was feeling, I ran. I didn’t know what else to do. I panicked.”

“That’s all I needed to hear.” He pauses. “I want you back.”

“Pardon me?”

“I want you back. I’m still head over heels in love with you, and I want to be with you…In the year we’ve been apart, I haven’t been able to stop thinkin’ about you. I eat, drink, and breathe you, Gigi.”

I’m speechless. He used his nickname for me, with that accent, and my heart flutters. It was almost always impossible to resist the melodic lilt of his voice. I stare at him for a while, shocked, and then finally respond, “I have a boyfriend.”

Good one, dummy. You already fucking said that. Obviously, not a deterrent. Why did I grab his hand in the car?

“So you’ve said. Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I blurt, “He asked me to move in with him.”

“What did you answer?”

“I didn’t. I mean I haven’t yet.”

“What
are
you goin’ to answer?”

“I don’t know,” I reply honestly, shrugging. “I need to talk Dr. White before I make my final decision.”

“How long have you been together?” he asks before taking a sip of his ice tea.

“Not long.”

“What exactly is not long?” he asks with an arched brow.

“We’ve been dating about three weeks.” I lie, but it doesn’t sound much better than one week.

“You’ve been datin’ three weeks, and yer already considerin’ shackin’ up with him? Do you love him?”

“Yes,” I answer with an offended tone. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t consider moving in with him if I didn’t.”

“Have you told him?” he inquires, cocking his head to the side. I suspect where he’s heading with this, and I could lie, but if I do, he may find hope in a future relationship.

“Yes.”

He appears pained, but he must hear the truth.

“I don’t mind a challenge. I embrace it.”

“Walker, I’m not telling you this to seem more challenging. I’m telling you because I need you to know where we stand as far as a future together goes.” I sigh. “I thought you weren’t stealing me away?”

“Do you still love me even in the slightest?” He ignores my question.

I gawk at him silently, longer than I should. The truth of the matter is I do still love him. He meant a great deal to me, but unfortunately, our timing was off. My love for Hunt is infinite, but there’ll always be a part of my heart that belongs to Walker. How could it not? He was an extraordinary boyfriend.