Obsession (21 page)

Laughing, I rubbed it while giving him a mock glare. “Fine, fine, fine.”

I got my stuff as quickly as I could, using the nice backpack Leo had given me, and by the time I made it back to the living room, Joy and Leo were laughing together like old friends.

For a moment I stood back and watched them, an unwelcome jealousy pinging through me when Leo smiled at Joy. I wondered if he liked a woman built like a porn star, because Joy’s rack was magnificent, the kind of breasts men devoted entire websites to, and her rear-end was equally well rounded, despite her small waist. Insecurity reared its ugly head and I almost went back to my room, but I noticed something that kept me frozen in place.

While Leo was giving her a charming smile, he was playing a part. The man joking with my friend wasn’t the Leo I knew, wasn’t the affectionate and open person I was used to. I mean he was, but there was something that alerted me, made me look closer at his face. It was in his eyes, in the crinkles around them. When he smiled at me they deepened, but when he smiled at Joy they remained almost smooth. His eyes weren’t smiling.

Yes, it was crazy I noticed things like that, but when you’d been raised for most of your life by emotionally unavailable adults, you tend to look where you could for any indication of life. If it wasn’t for my mother’s occasional random flash of anger, I would sometimes wonder if she wasn’t a robot. Leo caught me watching him and my suspicions were reaffirmed when his gaze filled with life and warmth. The change to me was profound, but Joy was oblivious as she nattered on about some class she’d taken with me in high school.

Something in my expression must have alerted him to my unbalanced emotional state because Leo quickly crossed the room and took my backpack, looping it over his shoulder and carrying it for me like a gentleman. Then he held out his hand, as though he knew I needed to connect with him, and I slipped his fingers between my own, instant relief filling me.

My mood lightened and when I turned to look at Joy, my smile was genuine. “I’m off. Text me if you need me.”

She looked between me and Leo, then back at me again, and a grinned. “Bye, it was nice seeing you again, Mr. Brass.”

“And you. By the way, since you were asking earlier—
I’m
Hannah’s Daddy.”

With that, we left a stuttering Joy, and I burst out laughing as Leo closed the door behind me. “Oh man, you got her good. How much did you hear?”

“Enough.” He smirked at me, but it wasn’t a nice smile. “I take it you told her about our kink?”

Suddenly realizing he might not have been cool with me talking about it, I quickly stuttered out, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

Sighing, he pulled me into a hug and kissed me into silence before guiding us into the elevator. “Hannah, it’s okay. I was just teasing you. While I hope you’d use discretion, I’m not embarrassed about anything that has to do with you or us. I could give a fuck what other people think, truly, so if you need to talk to your girlfriends, have at it. Just remember, I’m trusting you with this part of myself, and I hope that you wouldn’t talk about our private life to any random person.”

My shoulders drooped and I felt like crap. “I really am sorry.”

“I know.” We exited the elevator and I barely noticed the people entering staring at us. “Just in the future, keep in mind that I’m a wealthy businessman and people have tried, and will try, to blackmail me with all kinds of bullshit. It’s the price I pay for being successful in a cut-throat business. There are many, many people that would love to tear me apart, so you have to be careful where you talk and who you talk to, and not just for me, but for yourself as well.”

“I understand, really, I do.” Guilt still dogged me as I thought about how upset I’d be if I found out he was telling his buddies all about how I was his baby girl. “I’ll be more discreet.”

“That’s all I can ask.”

I was silent as I approached the Rolls waiting for us at the curb, still unused to people filming me with their cell phones as Mark gave me a nod then opened the door for us, his gray suit once again matching his eyes. The world was a different place now and my being with Leo meant I was going to have to get used to the lack of privacy. For someone with introverted tendencies like myself, it was uncomfortable, but my attention-loving side reveled in their open stares and envy.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar face grimacing at me.

“Hannah,” Kayla yelled out from the edge of the growing crowd.

I turned, my mouth tightening when I saw her decked out in a cute little pink dress that showed off her trim and fit figure, but was more suited to a party than walking to class. Her black, bobbed hair was perfectly styled and her makeup flawless. That, combined with her gleaming white smile and beauty queen good looks, usually made me feel inferior, lucky to be around her.

But not today. She still dressed, and acted, like we were in high school, and it was getting old. I know I’d been fortunate she was my friend in school, that a mean girl had taken me under her wing, but now I wondered when I’d grown up and she hadn’t.

She looked like she was on her way to a club, not class like she should be. Her calculating gaze took in the Rolls, then Leo, and I could practically hear her speculating about his bank account. When she fluttered her lashes at Leo, I had the sudden urge to punch her in the face.

A warm breeze scented with a hint of desperately needed rain stirred the air and thunder rumbled off in the distance.

Struggling to keep from acting like a crazy bitch, I forced myself to say, “Hey, Kayla. I’m about to leave, what’s up?”

She pouted at me. “You promised you’d watch Kiki for me tonight.”

Kiki was Kayla’s aunt’s pain-in-the-ass Pomeranian that destroyed anything in its reach, and that we—meaning me—had to watch at least once a week. Normally I’d stay home and watch the dog, mainly because I didn’t want it demolishing any more of my stuff. If Kayla was home, she’d put him in his crate, then our neighbors would complain when Kiki started up his incessant howling until someone let him out. Once again, usually me.

“No, I didn’t. I told you I wouldn’t be able to watch the dog because I have to study for finals.”

“But you don’t look like you’re studying.” Kayla sniffed as she took in the Rolls again, an ugly gleam entering her gaze.

“Hannah has plans,” Leo said in a firm, no-bullshit voice. “Excuse us.”

“Excuse
me
,” Kayla snapped, the bitch that lived beneath her candy-coated exterior surfacing. “I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to
my
roommate, so butt out.”

I was pissed, seriously pissed, as I growled, “Do not take that tone of voice with him.”

“Really, Hannah? You’re going to take his side?”

Tears filled her eyes and I wanted to apologize in order to keep her from crying, but I wasn’t going to let her manipulate me.

“I’m not taking anyone’s side. You asked me to watch Kiki, I said no because I obviously have plans, and now we’re going. I’ll see you on Wednesday. Bye!”

With that, I entered the car, leaving a stunned Kayla standing on the curb. Before Leo closed the door, she started to yell, but he slammed it shut, cutting her off as Mark quickly drove away. The silence rang in my ears and my heart thundered as I realized what I’d done. I’d stood up to Kayla. I’d rocked the boat and the world hadn’t ended. Adrenaline began to wane from my system and the shaking set in, so much so that my teeth chattered.

Leo hauled me onto his lap, his erection pressing against me, distracting me from my freak out. “Breathe with me, baby girl. I’ve got you. Hold on tight and breathe.”

I did as ordered, wrapping my arms around him as best I could while he cradled me close. “I can’t believe I told her no.”

He pressed his lips to my hair, his hands already stroking me in a soothing rhythm. “I can’t believe she expected you to drop everything to watch a pain-in-the-ass dog.”

I sighed and shook my head, hoping I wasn’t messing up his nice suit. “The dog wouldn’t be that bad, but its owners think of it as an accessory, like a purse, and put it away when they don’t want it.”

“I stand corrected. Sounds like the owners are pieces of shit.”

“They really are. But her parents are worse,” I whispered, as if afraid they’d somehow overhear me. “They were so mean to Kayla growing up.”

“Were Kayla’s parents mean to you as well?”

“Yeah, but in a different way. They always held me up as the shining example of a perfect daughter in order to make Kayla feel bad about herself. I hated that and would try to make them stop, but they’d only act even worse, so after a while I just stopped going over there. I know it hurt Kayla, a lot, and I always felt guilty about that.”

“Jesus, your life has been filled with fucked-up people. Is Joy the only semi-sane friend you have in your life?”

“I guess she is; her and her family. They’re a little odd, but in a good…normal way. Other than her cousin committing suicide, Joy’s family lives a peaceful and happy life. I liked that, like the open love they have for each other. It always felt welcoming in their house, filled with life and people. I want that someday. I want to have a big house filled with family and friends, everyone happy to be there because they know our house is a good place, a safe place, and they’re always welcome in our home.”

“
Our
house?”

Realizing I’d let one of the daydreams I’d had during class slip through, this one about living in Leo’s awesome house and having a big family together, I blushed. “Sorry, slip of the tongue.”

To my surprise, he smiled. “I’ll give you a slip of the tongue, but later. We have to stop by my office first. I unfortunately have unfinished business that I have to attend to before I can take care of you. But once that’s done with, I’m yours until you have to go back to class.”

“Really?” I sat up in his lap and smiled into his eyes. “Are you sure you can do that?”

“I may have to deal with a few things from time to time, but you’re my priority, Hannah.”

Sure I was glowing like an idiot, I gave Leo a quick kiss on his smooth cheek, pausing a moment to rub my lips over his skin. A bright spark of arousal sent a throb through my body and my nipples tightened so fast it almost hurt. The urge to taste him filled me, and I brushed a few long stray hairs off the side of his neck before licking him right above his collar, along his pulse. I could faintly taste his cologne, but it was mostly male sweat and musk. Delicious.

I took another lick, savoring his taste along my tongue, delighting in the way his body flexed against me. A muttered oath escaped him and he grasped my hips hard as he set me back in my seat with a firm grip and a teasing grin.

“Behave, little girl, because my control around you is seriously strained.” He grabbed my hand and ran it over his hard length. “Feel that? Feel how much I want you?”

“Yes, Daddy,” I whispered while looking into his eyes.

A throat cleared from the front seat, reminding me that we weren’t alone. “We’re here.”

Still holding my gaze, Leo said, “Thank you. We’ll be right out. Go inside and tell them I’ll be there soon.”

Realizing that he had important things to attend to, and that I was being selfish by getting him all hot and bothered, I looked away. “I’m sorry.”

“What could you possibly be sorry for?”

“Well, I’m the reason you’re late for your meeting.”

“You have no reason to feel bad about anything Hannah, understood?”

With a sigh, I blinked up at him and nodded. “Understood. Do you want me to wait out here?”

“No, darling, I want you as close to me as possible.” He placed a soft, so sinfully soft and luscious kiss against my mouth, my bones melting like butter in the sun. “Come on.”

He led me out of the car and I blinked as I saw where we were, the parking lot of a local animal rescue. I always dropped off my old clothing here to be used for bedding for the animals inside, and I’d dreamed of being able to take one of them home with me. I whirled around to stare at Leo, who watched me with an amused smile.

“This isn’t your office.”

“No, it’s not.”

“But why are we here?”

“Surprise.”

Stunned, I actually stumbled back a step. “What?”

“Pick any dog you want…but I have a few rules. He or she must be housebroken, they must be good with children, and they must also be good with cats. My housekeeper’s cat had kittens a couple weeks ago and I promised I’d take one off her hands.”

I think I might have had a heart attack right there beneath the dim, starry desert sky. “You’re getting a dog…and a kitten?”

“I am.”

I clutched my hands to my chest like some ditzy heroine out of a bodice ripper, my heart pounding as a huge smile stretched my face. “Really?”

“Really. I’ve been considering it for a while now. My neighbors had a cat and he was pretty cool. Kept to himself, and made you feel like he was doing you a favor if he let you pet him.” The distant look on Leo’s face in the harsh streetlights seemed especially poignant. “Some psycho fuck killed him, stabbed him and left him for dead in the alley behind our place.”

I closed the distance between us, tears burning my nose as I grabbed his hand. “That’s horrible, I’m so sorry it happened. Did they ever find out who did it?”

“Yes.”

“Were they arrested?”

“No. I took care of it personally.”

I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant, but caught myself at the last second. Some intuition told me I wouldn’t like his answer…and I stood at a precipice. Did I really want to know the dark truth about him yet? Did I really want to know just how far his sadistic streak went? Or did I just want to let it go, to dismiss my paranoia and enjoy rescuing a dog from a life of loneliness and heartache?

So I turned a mental blind eye to my half-formed, disturbing thoughts and smiled. “Okay.”

“Ready to go pick out a dog?”

“Absolutely.”

We were the only people in the shelter, and I had a feeling Leo had made a rather large contribution to keep them open past normal hours. The staff was all smiles, giving us a tour of their facilities and explaining what they did. By the time we reached the kennels, I was afraid the middle-aged redhead taking us on the tour would offer to give Leo a blowjob next. The top two buttons of her shirt were undone, revealing a rather generous amount of tanned cleavage. She was nice enough, I’d seen her before since she ran the clothing drives for the shelter, but I was feeling distinctly hostile to her as she kept throwing Leo fuck-me vibes.

For his part, Leo ignored her, focusing all his attention on me and playing the part of the perfect gentleman, opening doors and escorting me from room to room with his hand on the small of my back.

I became very conscious of that hand, my skin warming beneath the weight of his broad palm, his fingers curving just slightly over the top of my butt. It was a proprietary gesture, and I couldn’t help but walk a little taller next to him, proud to be his. I liked old fashioned manners; I liked how Leo treated me like a lady in public and a depraved whore in the bedroom. Yes, some feminists might stain their knickers at the knowledge that I enjoyed the virgin/whore dynamic, but fuck them. I liked what I liked and I didn’t need their condemnation, or blessing, for how I lived my life.

“Well, here we are,” Mindy purred as she gestured to the clean and spacious kennels. “We’ve got a full house. If you tell me what you’re looking for, I can help narrow it down for you.”

Leo repeated his requests, then nodded his head in my direction. “Hannah will have the ultimate say in which dog we pick for our home.”

He winked at me as he said the “our home” part, and I know I flushed pink because the tips of my ears felt like they were burning in the hot sun. The look Mindy gave me was part disbelief, part jealousy, and part embarrassment. The childish urge to stick my tongue out at her filled me, but I managed to not act like a bratty teenager and instead focused on the small spaces holding the dogs on either side.

“I’d like a dog between the ages of six months and two years. One that’s had a good family, and has had training. No small dogs, please, but also no giants. I don’t care about breed as long as they’re healthy.”

“Of course,” Mindy said in a voice that was less breathy and seductive than it had been for Leo, but her small smile was genuine. “I have a couple dogs down here that might suit you.”

Mark joined us as we began our search—he knew a lot about dogs—and they were very patient with me as I took my time meeting all the animals. In the end, I kept returning to the cage of a sad-eyed, two-year-old, gold-and-tan-colored pit bull. She’d been with a military family who were now stationed in a country that didn’t allow her breed, so they had to give her up. That had been five months ago, and no one had shown any interest in her because of the bullshit reputation of the pit bull breed being killers. Plus, she wasn’t perky like most of the other dogs. She didn’t jump and prance, barking for our attention or anything like that. She merely watched me with pale blue eyes that were filled with loneliness as her tail gave a hesitant wag, as if she was afraid to hope.