His Every Touch (For His Pleasure, Book 8) (3 page)

Kallie looked at her cell phone with sudden apprehension. She’d gotten a text message.

Come to my house immediately. No excuses.

That was all it said.

No, no, no. This was supposed to be a night for her and her parents. This wasn’t Hunter’s night.

What right did he have to demand she throw away a night with her parents—

whom she hadn’t seen in ages—just to be his sex slave for a few hours?

She wanted to toss her phone in the toilet and pretend she’d never seen his call or text.

Oops! Sorry, Hunter. My phone broke, that’s why I didn’t come over last night.

But Kallie knew that was no solution. The truth was, Hunter did have the right to demand she come to his house at any time, regardless of the inconvenience to her. She’d granted him that right by signing the contract, which stated as much.

Sure, the contract might not hold up in a court of law, but she’d signed it knowing that it meant something to him. And it also meant something to her.

Kallie wanted to see him again. If she ignored him now, it would really be over between them. He wasn’t going to accept yet another betrayal of his trust.

Don’t stand around and think about it or you’ll lose your nerve, she told herself.

A moment later, she was splashing water on her face and then rushing out of the bathroom, as if in a panic.

Her parents turned to stare at her as she ran out. “What’s wrong?” her mother asked.

“I’m sorry, guys, but I actually just got sick.”

“What?” her dad practically yelled.

“I got sick. I’m not feeling well.”

“Lay down, honey. Lay down on the bed right here.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I just—I’d rather go back to the house and try to sleep this off.”

Her parents exchanged worried and perhaps skeptical glances. Then her mother looked at her. “Did you throw up?”

“I didn’t want to say anything because I hoped it would pass, but I was feeling nauseous for an hour or two beforehand. It’s just worse than ever now and I’d rather go home if you don’t mind.”

“We don’t mind, but we want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’ll be fine once I get back to my own bedroom.” She wiped at her forehead with the back of her hand and gave a halfhearted hacking cough into her fist. “I’m so sorry, guys. Hopefully I’ll be all right in the morning, and then I can see you all at the dinner tomorrow.” She headed for the door.

“Kallie, wait a minute,” her father said.

She turned around, expecting him to say something about how disappointed he was in her behavior. But all he said was, “We love you. Please let us know when you get home. Okay?”

“I will, dad. Love you.”

Her parents said they loved her as she ran out of the room feeling lower than she’d ever felt in her life.

Why am I doing this?

No answer came. She hurried to the elevator and scurried inside, pressing the Lobby button and not meeting the gaze of the young couple standing beside her.

Funnily enough, her stomach actually did feel upset now. She wondered if the symptom were psychosomatic—maybe she’d actually vomit now, too.

Kallie ran out of the elevator, through the hotel lobby, and out to where the town car sat waiting for her. She got in, sweating profusely and shaking like a leaf. “I need you to drive me to Rhode Island,” she told him.

She expected him to look at her like she was insane, but all the driver did was shrug and smile. “No problem. What’s the address?”

And then they were off.

***

The drive to Hunter’s house was interminable. About halfway through, he texted her again.

Are you on your way?

She replied with one word.

Yes.

He didn’t respond to that, but she imagined him smiling like a shark when he read her answer.

The rest of the way there, Kallie tried to compose herself and get control of her emotions, which were shifting from joy, to anger, to excitement, to pure fear and finally back to joy again.

When his house on the hill came into view of the car, she got a sudden burst of excitement in her belly. Butterflies dancing, dancing, as she pictured Hunter’s face and his smile—imagined his eyes looking into hers as he kissed her lips.

Of course, knowing Hunter, there might be no kiss. She might be lucky to get a handshake out of this whole thing.

The car started up the hill. The driver glanced back at her once. “Can’t anybody just live in a normal cul de sac anymore?”

She laughed, grateful for his little quip.

But then the car became quiet again and they twisted and turned their way up the rest of the path, until finally reaching his driveway.

“Should I wait for you, Miss Young?” the driver asked, his tone neutral, no trace of judgment about what her answer might be.

She sat and thought about it momentarily. “I don’t think so,” she told him. “I believe I have a ride home.”

“Sure thing.” The driver nodded to her as she got out, and Kallie thanked him profusely before closing the car door.

As she walked up the front walkway, she saw the town car pull out of the driveway and disappear down the hill. Now she was alone, and there was no way out of this situation. Hunter would have her all to himself.

Before she even was able to knock once, the door to the house opened and Hunter Reardon stood before her. “You came,” he said, nodding as if in approval of her quick execution of his order. He waved her inside.

He was wearing a navy blue long sleeve shirt that fit his toned frame with alluring snugness, following the sharp lines of his biceps and chest muscles, accentuating his broad shoulders. Hunter was also wearing a pair of gray cargo pants and fresh white sneakers. Somehow, even though he was dressed so casually, Hunter managed to maintain an aura of sophistication and seriousness that Kallie thought came as a direct result of his confidence.

Kallie moved past him into the house and he shut the door behind her.

“I knew you’d come,” he said.

“That makes one of us,” she muttered.

“This is a very big step forward. Do you understand just how significant this moment is for you—and for us?”

She still hadn’t turned to face him, but she could feel him approaching from behind. And oh, how she wanted to feel those strong hands on her shoulders, bringing her close to him. She imagined his breath tickling the back of her neck, followed by his lips….

“All I know is that you sent for me, so I came,” she told him. “In the end, that’s the only thing I can say for sure.”

“I’m impressed,” he said.

She finally turned around and glanced at him, unable to stare directly at him for too long. “Why are you impressed?” she asked.

“You haven’t complained yet about how unfair it was for me to spring this on you at the last second.”

“There’s no point in complaining, is there? I suppose this is how it’s going to be from now on. I’ve accepted my role.”

“Look at me, Kallie.” He reached out and tilted her chin so that her eyes were forced to meet his gaze.

“Yes?” she said, allowing herself to look into his eyes. He was magnetic, and the charge that ran through her was electric and made her heart race like a wild stallion.

“You’ve made a big sacrifice for me, tonight. Didn’t you?”

She nodded. “I did.”

“What was it? I can tell you’re emotional about this.”

“I don’t want to complain,” she said. “Don’t make me.”

“Just explain what it is that’s making you feel this way. I want to know. I do care about you,” he said.

“My family is in town this weekend,” she told him. “I haven’t seen my parents in six months and tonight we were going out together. I was at their hotel room for all of five minutes when you texted me. And then I pretended to be sick, and I left. And I feel really sad and guilty about that.”

His eyes never left hers as she spoke. She found his gaze very reassuring, and his expression wasn’t at all judgmental. “It’s okay,” he told her. “It wasn’t your fault, Kallie.”

“Of course it’s my fault. I agreed to do this, and now I’m at your beck and call, no matter what the circumstance. My parents shouldn’t have to be hurt because of me.”

“I’ll take the blame,” Hunter said.

“You’re going to call my parents and tell them why I ran out of the hotel room tonight?” she said, laughing at the thought of it.

Hunter shook his head slowly. “Give the guilty feelings over to me. Let me worry about them. Let me worry about everything, Kallie. Instead of focusing on all the problems this kind of relationship makes for you, you should start to look for some of the good that can come of it.”

“I just don’t understand. I want to understand, but I don’t.”

He smiled and leaned in, kissing her lips. His lips lingered, pausing, kissing again, slowly becoming more passionate. Then his strong arms took hold of her and drew her to his body, wrapping her in an embrace. She moaned softly as his tongue entered her mouth.

When he withdrew from their kiss, Hunter smiled at her. “Understand this,” he said. “I’m in total control now. That means you have to do as I say. But it also means that I have to shoulder the burden. I’m the one who’s upset your parents and hurt you.

I’m the one who has to find a way to make it right. And I will make it right, believe me.”

She sighed. Kallie didn’t know how he could possibly make anything right, but she desperately wanted to believe him. And she liked the idea of giving her guilt over to him as well. It was true that he was the one who’d asked her to come at the last minute.

She was merely honoring the contract. Hunter was the one who’d forced her into this particular situation, and she could choose to let him shoulder the responsibility for that decision.

“Okay,” she said, looking steadily at him. “I’m not going to feel guilty anymore.”

He broke into a wide grin. “That’s very good. I’m impressed again.” He grabbed her by the hand. “Come with me,” he said, leading her to the stairs. “I have something I want to give you.”

She slowed down. “Are we going to the bedroom?”

“Yes. Is that okay with you?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He stopped and shook his head. “Come on, Kallie. I can tell that something’s wrong. What is it?”

“The last time we went to your room, you tied me up and left me.”

He took her hand again. “Don’t worry. That won’t happen again, I promise.”

They walked upstairs together. As usual, his bedroom looked immaculate, spotless—as if nobody had ever used it. His house reminded her of something that had been staged by a real estate agent—beautiful but not lived in at all.

Hunter walked to his nightstand and grabbed an envelope that had been lying on top of it, walked back to where Kallie stood and handed the envelope to her.

She slowly opened the envelope and took out the sheet of paper folded inside.

When she unfolded the paper, she found her hastily written contract—the one she’d recreated from memory—and it had been fully signed and dated by Hunter.

“You signed it,” she said, feeling warmth spread from her belly to her chest. “I guess this makes us official?”

“That it does. I want you to have that. I made a copy for my own records.”

She put the contract back in its envelope and placed that in her purse. She wasn’t sure what came next—A trip to the basement to celebrate the deal?

But Kallie needn’t have wondered, because a moment later he was kissing her again, pulling her close, and his hands were touching her body all over. “I can’t resist you, Kallie,” he whispered.

She loved hearing him say that. His words pulsed through her body like a shot of adrenaline. His kisses became more intense, more probing, and then he leaned down into her in such a way that it became clear he wanted her on the bed.

She allowed herself to fall backwards onto the soft mattress, and Hunter lowered himself on top of her. His kisses were fiery, passionate, and she could sense his emotion from the way he touched her.

For the first time, she had the real belief that Hunter meant what he said about them being perfect for one another. Kallie didn’t quite know why he needed the relationship to be so structured and her to be completely subservient, but she did know that in some ways it truly suited her—even if it hurt to admit it.

She liked him being in control of things.

She enjoyed that Hunter was taking care of her, making her his responsibility. It felt as though all of his attention was turned to her and only her.

What woman wouldn’t want all of her man’s attention, especially a man as sexy and mysterious as Hunter Reardon?

Every time Hunter’s lips touched hers, Kallie had to stifle a moan of pleasure. He was so delicate and yet at the same time, firm and strong and impassioned. His lips began to kiss down her neck, lingering near her collarbone as his hands grabbed hold of Kallie’s hips.

She spread her legs for him and her dress hiked up almost to the tops of her thighs. Hunter pressed into her now, and she could feel the bulge in his crotch against her moistened entrance. Even through the buffer of their clothing she could sense his urgent need to delve inside her, and she wanted that more than anything.

Hunter pulled up and looked into her eyes. “You know that it takes everything in my power not to just fall completely into you and never come back.”

She reached up and pulled on his shirt, tugging him towards her. “I want you to fall in. I want to take you all the way inside of me so we never have to be apart.”

His eyes had taken on a new intensity, she realized. He was examining her face, her expression, as if he couldn’t believe she was real. “But you know that I have limits,”

he whispered. “You know there are some things that I can’t ever change. I’m broken inside, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You can’t hurt me,” she said. “And I know you never would, Hunter.”

He seemed to hear what she was saying, like a drowning man hanging onto a lifeline. And then he was on top of her again, his chest pressing into hers, his hands cupping her face as he kissed her lips.

Now she did let herself moan, louder and louder, because the pleasure was too much. Everything was too much.