Best Served Cold

by Sandy Lynn

  “I’d rather see you wiggle your ass.”

  “That’s not happening.” A smile broke free.

  “Would you feel better if I told you nothing happened between us?” Demetri took her hand in his.

  “I’m not sure I’d believe you.”

  “I promise you, on my honor as Alpha male of my pack, that we didn’t do anything. I won’t lie to you and tell you that I wasn’t tempted, ‘cause I was. Damn, was I. Especially when you stood up and placed your ass in my face...” His voice trailed off. He cleared his throat, then continued. “But I respect you, and would never take advantage of you in such a manner. You were drunk, and I want our...I want you to remember what we do.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “I woke up naked. You’re in my bed naked. I’m supposed to believe that nothing happened?”

  “You threw up more than once. Just before the second time, I had managed to convince you to come back to your apartment. You weren’t as lucky as the previous time, and you got some all over your clothes.”

  “And your state of undress? How do you explain that?”

  “I’m a big boy. I haven’t slept in clothes in many, many years. I knew I wouldn’t do anything so long as you were drunk or passed out. I’m not that kind of wolf.”

  Stacy opened her mouth to say something then closed it. Opening her mouth again, she knew she was blushing when she said, “You changed the sheets.”

  “Yes.”

  “So, you know what happened...”

  “I know.”

  Now came the hard part. Why couldn’t he just tell her what he thought instead of making her ask him? “And?”

  “What do you want me to say, Stacy? We made no promises but that of friendship. I can live with that.”

  “So you’re cool with the fact that I...”

  “I won’t say I want to jump up and do a happy dance, but I won’t hold it against you.” Sitting up, he shifted closer to her. He kissed her shoulder. “Stacy, Jack’s my friend. He would’ve told me even if you hadn’t. Even if I hadn’t smelled it. On your bed, on you... There are worse people you could’ve been with, in my opinion.”

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m sorry?” He looked completely confused. Which meant he looked exactly as she felt.

  “Who are you? What kind of man says it doesn’t matter what his lover... Do you even care...” Stacy stopped herself. She shook her head and looked away. The last thing she needed was to hear straight from him that he didn’t care what she did. That he had no feelings for her. She tried to choke the tears back.

  What right did she have to cry? He’d made no promises to her. She couldn’t make any to him. He was just an occasional lover, a man who might help her out now and then if she needed it.

  Ignoring her nudity, knowing that him seeing her naked would be less embarrassing than him witnessing her tears, she turned away from him and began climbing out of the bed.

  “Stacy...”

  “Don’t. Look, um, thank you for making sure I got home okay. And I, uh, apologize for whatever I did last night. But I think I just really need to get in the shower and get to work. You can show yourself out.”

  “We need to talk.”

  “I don’t really have anything to say.”

  “Then you can listen.”

  Anger built inside of her. Fury at how her ex had treated her. Rage at herself—and Demetri—for how she’d allowed herself to start feeling for him. Frustration at her inability to do anything right.

  Turning slowly to face him, she allowed her feelings to ooze out of her. “Then you can schedule an appointment with Ms. Pope.” She stared into his eyes, refusing to back down.

  How long they stayed like that she didn’t know. She just knew she wouldn’t lose this battle of wills.

  “Stacy...”

  “What?” What would he say? Would he tell her what a mistake she’d made? Would he tell her to find a new lawyer? Would he suggest she back off and realize just who she was talking to?

  His voice was soft as he continued to stare at her. “Do not turn your back on me.”

  Were his teeth longer? His voice deeper? Rougher? Part of her screamed that she should listen to him. It said that even if they stayed locked in a stalemate for hours, she could not, should not turn her back on him.

  But her pride was stung and she’d be damned if he told her what she could and could not do.

  “Don’t tell me what to do.” She looked at him as long as she could, only breaking eye contact with him when she was in a position to continue her trek to the bathroom. She couldn’t have taken more than three or four steps when she was picked up and felt a shoulder pressing against her stomach.

  “What are you... What do you think you’re doing?” she screamed, kicking her legs as hard as she could and trying to push against him in an effort to free herself.

  There was a sudden stinging in her ass.

  Had he just smacked her? “What the hell are you doing? Just who do you think you are?”

  Without a word from Demetri, she was thrown onto the bed. Again before she could move, she felt him covering her. His hand wrapped in her hair as he pulled her head back.

  “I’m the wolf who warned you not to turn your back. The one who told you when we met that you do not run from a wild animal because it excites us.” He growled and she felt his teeth against her throat. “And don’t ever think that just because I wear a suit and I know how to play nice that I am not a wild animal.” He bit down on her shoulder harder, the same side he’d bitten before, and a moan escaped her.

  “I’m the man who somehow found the strength to say no when you were crawling all over me, teasing me, caressing me. The one you nearly fucked last night in the middle of a bar, loudly proclaiming to anyone who cared to listen that you didn’t care who watched so long as I made you scream.”

  He still had the firm grip on her hair and she knew she should be outraged. That she should protest and tell him to release her. But it was hard to make herself sound angry, convincing when she was trembling. And it wasn’t from fear. Had she ever been so excited before?

  Still his speech continued.

  “I’m the man who wouldn’t take advantage of you while you were drunk.” He bit her shoulder again. Then he slowly licked a path over her shoulder and up her still very exposed throat. “Well, Stacy, you aren’t drunk now. And even if I couldn’t smell how incredibly excited you are, make no mistakes. I can feel it.” He growled in her ear. “I’m not even inside your body yet and I can feel your cream on me.”

  How did she get herself in this position? How’d she go from being infuriated to practically whimpering, wanting nothing more than to feel him thrusting inside of her?

  He used his grip on her hair to tilt her head to the side. She was completely out of control, but she wasn’t scared.

  “You are going to listen to me if I have to fuck you to make certain of it.” He slid inside of her. “And no rule breaking this time. The second you aren’t listening, I will stop and I will walk away. I won’t look back this time, Stacy. Do you understand me?”

  She bit her lip and nodded as much as she could.

  “Do you understand me?”

  “Yes,” she groaned. Thankfully, he finally started thrusting into her.

  “Don’t think for a second that I like the thought of another man being inside of you,” he growled. “The knowledge that another man is making you whimper, feeling your body under his hands.” He released her hair, but his hand wrapped around her throat, keeping it exposed.

  As he thrust into her body, Stacy tried to pay attention. Her senses were being overwhelmed and it was hard to concentrate. Demetri felt so good inside of her. She loved the way he covered her body, the knowledge that all he had to do was squeeze and she could be dead.

  Not because she wanted to die. She’d never have believed that she’d ever trust anyone with her life again. But here was Demetri. And no matter how much she didn’t like it, she did trust hi
m. Completely.

  “But I do know about your job. I do know that your body is not always your own.” He grew rougher. “Do you think I like it knowing I have to let other men touch you?”

  “What...What do you...oh, God!”

  Demetri continued to thrust into her, and Stacy’s eyes closed. She bit down on her lip as hard as she could as her orgasm built until it threatened to rip her apart. Hell, Demetri’s thrusts were threatening to do that but she knew she’d beg him to continue if he tried to stop.

  His voice was more of a growl than she’d ever heard before. “That I don’t want to rip them apart...”

  “What are you saying?” she gasped out. “Oh God, don’t stop.”

  He didn’t answer. He made a sound and she could feel his teeth sinking into her shoulder. He adjusted the hand on her throat until he could slip a finger between her lips. She eagerly sucked on it as he obeyed her and continued thrusting into her. When her orgasm hit, Stacy cried out around the digit. She felt him spill his load inside of her then collapse on top of her.

  His hand left its position, and she wanted to whimper.

  She wasn’t sure now was the time to ask the question she needed to. Not when her bones were now oatmeal and her muscles were threatening a mutiny. But it was something she had to do. She had to know. “What are you saying?”

  Demetri shook his head against her. “You didn’t listen.”

  “I did,” she whispered. “But I don’t understand.”

  Lifting his head from her shoulder, he adjusted himself until his breath was blowing across her lips. “Nothing will change what’s between us. Not your contract, or your obligations. And I will never criticize you for your choices.”

  Was he saying what she thought he was saying? No, of course not. To assume that would just be stupid. Wouldn’t it?

  Aloud, she said, “I still don’t understand.”

  “But you will. When the time is right...you will.” He silenced any further questions with a kiss.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sitting at her desk, Stacy was chewing on the top of her pen. What was going on with her? Why was she so drawn to Demetri?

  “And why the hell does he keep biting me?” she grumbled to the empty room.

  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Stacy looked around the room, expecting to see someone who would answer her question. Or at the very least someone who would make a sarcastic remark. But she was still alone in the office.

  “Great. The one time I would actually appreciate someone to pop in and give me an answer, they don’t.” She sighed.

  Beside her the phone buzzed, startling her out of her thoughts. “Yes, Ms. Pope?”

  “I would like to see you in my office a moment, Stacy.”

  “Of course.” Great. Now what did she want? Her boss had an uncanny knack of reading her mind at the worst of times. Stacy really didn’t want the other woman inside of her head at the moment.

  But then, maybe she was overreacting. Perhaps, if she were lucky, this would fall under the category of her private sex life, and thus Ms. Pope would be unable to read her thoughts. Dare she hope?

  Going through the now familiar hallway, she paused at her boss’s door and knocked.

  “Come in.”

  Stacy entered the room, but refrained from sitting down. Instead, she stood beside one of the chairs, waiting to hear what her boss wanted. She just really wasn’t in the mood to play guessing games. There was too much going on in her life right now—too much she needed to figure out.

  When she looked at the woman behind the desk, Stacy noticed an expression of mild surprise on her employer’s face. One delicate eyebrow was arched slightly, as neither of them spoke.

  “Straight to the point, then,” Ms. Pope said huskily. “Have you come to any decisions regarding your soon to be ex-husband?”

  “No.” Yay. Now that was just one more thing she had to worry about at the moment. Would you care to add anything else while you’re at it, she thought sarcasticly knowing it would be overheard.

  “My, my, we are in a bad mood today. Would you care to tell me why? I know you had fun with Tina. I also know, thanks to the wonderful black spot I encounter, that you had more fun when Demetri returned you to your apartment.”

  “I just...” She gave up the battle. She sank down into one of the chairs and leaned back. “Well, first, why do you make me spell everything out? You know what’s bugging me, I know you do. You’ve made that perfectly clear by the way you answer questions I haven’t even had the chance to ask yet.”

  “I make you ask,” Ms. Pope said in a strangely motherly voice, “because if I answer the question before it is asked, you wouldn’t understand the answer.”

  “Then why don’t you wait for all my questions to be asked?”

  She shrugged. “Some require more delicate handling than others.”

  “Why don’t you just save us all a lot of time and aggravation and tell me what’s wrong with me? While you’re at it, just go ahead and answer the questions I want to ask that I don’t realize I want answered, and just tell me what’s going to happen to my ex, since I know you already know that too!” Stacy paused for a breath. “And this is one of those times that I’m really not sorry that I tend to give you migraines. I’m frustrated, I’m confused, I feel like I don’t know what’s really going on and anyone who could help me with the answers, or even help me know which questions to ask are shutting me out and giving me these proverbial pats on the head while they tell me how well I’m doing... I just want to understand what the hell is going on in my life. Is that too much to ask for? ” She screamed the last question. She hadn’t meant to, but she did.

  “No, Stacy, it isn’t. But then you are the only one holding yourself back.” Ms. Pope stood up, then walked around her desk. Then she did something that Stacy believed rarely ever happened. Before her eyes, Ms. Pope rearranged the chair beside Stacy until it would face her, and sat down in it. “We are all bound by our agreements. There are questions you want answered that no one is at liberty to answer. Yet. There are certain things you must learn to accept. And while I applaud your ability to adjust faster than most any human we have employed in centuries, still you refuse to accept the most simple of all truths.

  “You already know the answers to the questions that we cannot answer. That is why we cannot answer them. If you refuse to help yourself, then there is no one in this company who can or will help you. You know what you want where your ex is concerned. You simply refuse to admit it, even to yourself. You know why everything around you seems so drastically different from your previous life, but again, you refuse to accept it. I cannot give you the answers to these questions because you must find them inside of yourself. Do you understand?”

  “No,” she pouted.

  “Stacy...” Ms. Pope’s voice held a slight warning.

  Stacy nodded. “Yeah, I guess. But I think it would save us all a lot of time, effort and headache medicine if you’d just give me the answers,” she grumbled.

  “That it truly would.” Ms. Pope massaged her temple. “But then you would never learn anything. I am, however always here if you need to talk.” She held up a finger to stop Stacy from interrupting. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter if the other person already knows what you have to say. Sometimes the act of just saying the words is exactly what we need.”

  The two women sat there in silence for a moment. Ms. Pope, as always dressed in a very elegant yet incredibly sensual outfit, seemed to truly care about her. As she stared at her boss—no, at the moment, she was her colleague—Stacy thought about all the bitching she’d done. Yeah, it was mostly inside her head but still, she’d done it. She complained because she wasn’t told things. Because she felt she wasn’t given answers. But look at what she had been given.

  Thanks to this company, to Ms. Pope, Stacy had more than she’d ever had before in her life. She honestly had friends she felt she could trust. She actually felt she had people who cared about her—a
nd not just what she could do for them.

  “And now, you’re on the right path to finding your answers,” Ms. Pope whispered. “I give you this little hint. There really is truth in the old saying ‘The best revenge is simply to enjoy your own life, find happiness, and become successful’.”

  Without warning the woman stood up, straightened the chair and resumed her position on the opposite side of the desk. All signs of their cozy camaraderie gone. They were once again Administrator and secretary.

  “Do make sure you phone your guru once you’ve returned to your desk.”

  Stacy knew she’d been dismissed. Standing, she prepared to leave the office.

  “Oh, and Stacy...”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Two things. One, in this office, there will never be a need to hide any, uh, marks on your person. It is often an accepted aspect of life here. Though you do have the right to your privacy, and none can take that from you.”

  “Yes, ma’am. And the other thing?”

  “Yes. I’ve made certain you are on the top of the list to help torture that nurse you despise so much. Unless she adjusts her attitude quite soon, one of our clients will be calling for us to adjust it for her, and your services will be required. The question is, are you truly ready for it?”

  Stacy blushed. She’d almost forgotten about the mental note she’d tucked away inside her brain about that bitch nurse. A small part of her that she hadn’t really known existed had perked up at the thought of torturing that bitch. Sticking her with needles just to cause her pain and enjoying the other woman’s torture. A larger part of her said she wasn’t sure she was ready to go down that path. That once she did, she would lose a small piece of her soul.

  New thoughts swirled around her head as she returned to her desk, and it didn’t take long for her sulky attitude to return. She wasn’t asking the right questions? Well, how the hell was she supposed to know what questions to ask?

  Rolling her eyes, she called Savon. He answered but informed her that he would unfortunately be unavailable for the next few days. He had a conference to go to that had been planned months before, and there was nothing to be done about it. She did chuckle when he promised to call her as soon as he was back in town and they could catch up and he could help her relax her mind again from whatever twisted mess she had turned it into.