by Cora Bell
“Sorry,” she said, plucking at the shirt. “Mine was dirty. And ripped.”
“You’re welcome to anything you need or want. I’m having Charles pick you up the essentials.”
Her cheeks burned red and she stood from the bed. “That’s not necessary. I mean—don’t think I don’t appreciate what you’ve done—what you did.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m trying to say thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And that I can head home now.”
“No.” I took a step closer, towering over her without her heels. “Did you not hear me the first time? I tried to tell you it’s not safe out there. The world is full of terrible people, and yet you still trust them.”
“Not everyone is like that.”
I gave her a sharp smile. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
“You’re not like that. You helped me tonight.”
My laugh was low and harsh. “I might be the worst of all. You should probably stay far away from me.”
She lifted her chin. “Then why am I here?”
I swallowed hard. Because I needed her safe. I needed her near. Mostly, I just needed her.
“You should get some rest,” I said quietly.
She crossed her arms. “Fine. But you’re not doing a very good job.”
“Of what?”
She moved closer, just two steps, but her bare feet were nearly touching my shoes. “Of pretending you’re an asshole. You’re not like those guys tonight, and I wish you’d just stop trying so fucking hard to prove it to me.” She rose up on her toes and kissed my cheek, lips just a whisper against my skin. “Thank you.”
Then she walked to the bed and climbed under the covers. I turned off the light on my way out and tried desperately to remind myself how wrong I was for Reyna. But I couldn’t seem to convince myself this time.
CHAPTER SIX
“I can’t take these,” I told Nash. “Where are my clothes?”
“I threw them out.”
My mouth dropped open, and I stared at the pile of clothes he’d brought in this morning. He’d dumped them on the bed and told me to pick something to wear. There were more clothes here than my entire wardrobe at home.
I got off the bed, still barefoot and wearing his t-shirt. “You can’t just…”
“Can’t what?”
“Tell me what to do.”
He actually had the audacity to grin. “It’s been working pretty well for me so far.”
“No, it hasn’t. I’m going home.”
He laughed. “In that?”
I glanced down at his shirt and frowned. Then I reached for the closest t-shirt and pair of jeans I found and clutched them in my arms. “Fine. I’ll wear these home and send them back to you when I’m done.”
“Reyna.”
“And you,” I shouted, grabbing another handful of clothes, “can keep these!”
I tossed the clothes at him, watching as he swatted them away. I went for another handful, and then gasped when his arms closed around me.
“Stop it,” he warned, spinning me around so we were face to face.
“You’re not my boss anymore,” I whispered heart racing hard enough I was sure he could feel it as well.
“That’s not what I want. That’s why I called you last night.”
My eyes dipped to his lips. I remembered his voice on the phone. Low, husky. Almost apologetic. And then he’d sent someone to rescue me. “What do you want?”
This time his eyes lowered, tracing the muted bruise on my cheek before staring at my lips. His Adam’s apple moved when he swallowed. The heat of his gaze alone was making me wet. One moment I was throwing things at him and the next, I wanted his body all over mine.
“Do it,” I said.
His eyes went dark and his dick hardened against my hip. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“You can’t be in control of everything.”
His composure snapped. His arms tightened around me and his mouth crushed against mine. I dropped the clothes and slid my fingers into his hair, turned on by his deep groan. By the fact that I—I alone—had made him lose that control.
“Reyna,” he said gruffly.
I slid my tongue along his lower lip. “Nash.”
“Damn. I need you to call me that from now on. No more Mr. Holmes.”
He jerked me against him again, making my breath lodge in my throat. Then his hands made a slow descent down my arms to the hem of the shirt, and then underneath.
My nipples puckered against the material, pressing against his chest while his fingers touched my abdomen, then skimmed the lip of my panties.
“I need you,” he breathed.
And I found that I felt the same way. But when he gripped my hips again, I grimaced and jerked back.
“What is it?”
“I…just a bruise.” I rubbed the sore spot, but the momentum was gone. I barely knew Nash. God, I wanted him, but I also needed a few minutes to think.
He didn’t reach for me, eyes cautious. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”
“God—no—I know.” I gathered the clothes again. “I just need some time.”
“Don’t tell me you’re leaving.”
My mouth opened, ready to argue with him, but then I saw the look on his face. Almost…vulnerable.
“No, I’m not leaving.”
“Good. I’ll give you what you need. Space if you need it. In fact, I have a job for you.”
I frowned at him, and to my surprise, he smiled. How did he go from wanting me to talking about work in a split second?
“If you’re willing to reconsider my offer,” he continued.
“Can I think about it? Maybe…do a trial run today?”
He angled his head, considering this. Looking as surprised as I’d just felt. “Really?”
And for once he looked like a regular man. Not one beaten down by the world, but just a guy who was having a talk with a girl.
“I mean, I need a little more information first.”
“Absolutely.” His face went serious again. He pointed. “Put some clothes on.”
“Work clothes?”
“Any clothes. You’re going on a mission.”
“But—”
“Clothes. I have to get something for you.”
He was off again before I could say anything, footsteps quick down the hallway. Something else? What was he up to?
And a mission? I wasn’t really sure I wanted to go out. Not by myself. Sure, it was daytime, but I could still remember the guys following me all too well last night. Remember their hands locked on my arms, pawing at me.
I shuddered and pulled on the jeans and t-shirt. I found a sweater as well and tugged that over my arms, wincing when I felt a few bruises.
“Reyna.”
I whipped around, my hand going to my chest. “Mr. Hol—Nash. I didn’t hear you.”
His eyes were dark, barely veiled anger in them. “They hurt you.”
“I’m fine. It’s over.”
He stepped a few feet closer but didn’t touch me. He held a bag in his hand, but it seemed he’d forgotten all about it. “Forget about today. Just stay here.”
“Forget about what?” I shook my head. “What do you mean?”
“I…” He looked down. It was the first time I’d seen him at a loss for words.
“Nash?” When he didn’t meet my eyes, I stepped up to him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“It’s nothing.”
“You’re lying.”
This time his head did come up, eyes meeting mine at the challenge. “Reyna,” he said, voice low in warning.
“If you’re not going to talk to me about things, I don’t know how you can expect me to work for you. And I definitely can’t stay here. I’m supposed to be at work downstairs.”
“That’s taken care of.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a box.
My mouth dropped open. “Oh my God.”
&
nbsp; “They said it’s the best.”
“It is,” I breathed, almost afraid to open the box.
It was the exact camera I wanted, with all the lenses and every single amazing feature that could really make me a better photographer.
“What is this for?”
He held out the box. “For you.”
“No, I can’t—”
He shoved it at me. “You can, and I’ll tell you why.”
#
“You owe me even more now,” Layla said, laughing on the other end of the phone.
I shoved a hand in my hair as I paced in front of the window. “I know. It wasn’t my plan to just leave you there. Hire whoever you need to and once they’re trained, you’re free to go.”
“Free to go?” She chuckled. “Thanks for the permission.”
“You know what I mean.”
Layla was the only woman I knew who wouldn’t take any shit from me—well, besides Reyna. But of course, Layla was my sister, so she didn’t have to take it. And she could dish it out just as well as I could.
“Something happened last night,” I began.
Her voice turned serious in an instant. “What? Nash, tell me—”
“It was Reyna. She… These two guys tried to attack her.”
“Oh, God. Nash. I’m sorry. That’s horrible. Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. I sent her out with Charles today so she wouldn’t be alone. They’ll be back soon. I just…” I gave a choked and humorless laugh. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about Brianna.”
“I know, but Reyna’s fine and…wait.”
I stopped pacing. “What?”
“You sent her out with Charles? What does that mean? She’s there? Or she was there? Like in your penthouse?”
“Yes to most of those.”
She was silent so long, I almost growled out a demand for her to say something.
“Are you…?” Her voice turned sly. “Is there something going on?”
“No. Yes. Damn it.”
“I’m not making fun of you. This is good. No great. You need this.”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t know what I needed, only what I wanted. And Reyna seemed to be it right now. But Reyna also didn’t know my past.
“I can’t believe you let her into your place,” Layla said. “These are good steps, right?”
I still didn’t answer. That’s what my psychiatrist would say. Steps. But I still didn’t think I was ready—didn’t know if I ever would be ready. On the other hand, Reyna made me feel like I could do things I hadn’t done in years.
“One thing at a time.” Layla said something away from the phone, voice muffled. “I have a customer—I have to go. I’m proud of you, Nash.”
I frowned. I hated it when she talked to me like a little kid. She was only three minutes older.
She lifted her voice in a joking tone. “You finally got a woman up there and you already let her go? Hope she comes back!”
And then she ended the call.
Hell. I hadn’t thought about that. It had taken some work to get Reyna back here last night, and then I’d sent her right out the door this morning? What if something happened? Or what if she just didn’t want to come back, like Layla said?
If it were three years ago, I might have gone after them. No, I would have gone with them in the first place. Once upon a time, the world was an adventure instead of a nightmare.
By the time I’d imagined every horrible scenario that could go wrong with Reyna out of my sight and I was ready to call Charles to tell him to get his ass back here, the elevator dinged. When it opened to reveal Reyna laughing and looking perfectly unharmed, I folded my arms.
“Guess you had a good time.”
Reyna’s eyes locked on mine, her smile fading. “We did. It’s a nice day out there.”
Of course she’d throw that at me, when I couldn’t go outside. Or wouldn’t.
“You’ve been gone four hours.”
Reyna thanked Charles when he carried her bag of camera equipment inside and set it on the counter in the kitchen. “You asked me to do a job. I did. What the hell is your problem?”
Charles turned away discreetly and wandered down the hall to the office. When he was out of earshot, I gave Reyna a pointed look.
“After what happened last night? You think I’m going to be comfortable with you wandering out there for hours and hours?” I asked.
She sighed, her shoulders rising and falling with the motion. “I thought that’s why you sent Charles. And I told you before I left that I wasn’t sure about the job. You seemed perfectly fine sending me off then.”
“It’s—that’s not why I sent you off.” Damn woman, she was twisting my words and my brain. “You’re not a prisoner here. I wanted to prove that to you.”
“Good,” she snapped, reaching for her purse. “Because you’re way too moody for me. I’m going home.”
“Reyna.”
She waved a hand, dismissing me. “I’ll talk to you about the job later since you obviously want to throw a temper tantrum right now.”
A temper tantrum? Who the hell was she? Layla? What was wrong with the world of women today?
“Reyna, don’t get on that elevator.”
She laughed. “You’re not the boss of me.”
And now she was acting like a little kid. She pressed the button and waited patiently for the elevator doors to open.
“Reyna,” I said again, stepping up behind her.
She smelled like the outdoors. Like sunshine and freedom—things I may never experience again.
“Don’t go,” I said.
She turned slightly. “Why not?”
I sucked in a sharp breath, and then spoke honestly. “Because I can’t go after you.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
It was the first time I’d been in his office. There were three flat-screen monitors attached to the wall, one showing images from four different places in the hotel. They rotated, landing on the front desk of the store I worked in.
Used to work in. I wasn’t sure anymore. Nash was all over the place. Moody one minute, attentive the next. Protective and near paranoid at times as well.
But even with all that, I saw a vulnerability in him—a brokenness—that spoke to me. So when he asked me to stay, I couldn’t say no.
“Sit.” Nash gestured to the desk as he went for a file cabinet.
Frowning at his demand, I walked to the desk, but sat on the surface instead of in the chair.
“I haven’t shown this to anyone before,” he murmured, pulling a folder out and opening it.
There were dozens of papers inside, and photographs, and more. He kept it turned away from me, however, and only pulled out one picture.
He passed it over.
Staring back at me was a woman, just a few years younger than me, with a bright smile and blue eyes that seemed to look straight into my soul.
“She’s beautiful,” I whispered.
He swallowed hard and turned to the window, staring out over the city. “She was my fiancée.”
My mouth dropped open. Fiancée? Was? I was afraid to ask, but I had to know.
“What happened?”
“You really don’t know? It was in all the papers, online, her face splashed everywhere in the city. ‘Billionaire Mogul’s Fiancée Slain in Cold Blood’.”
Bile rose in my stomach. “Oh, God. Nash…” I set the picture aside and walked to him. “I’m so sorry.”
“You remind me of her. Innocent. Ready to believe the best in everyone. To trust everyone.” His voice grew hoarse. “It was a long time ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday.”
“Is that…is that why you don’t like to leave your house?”
He gave a humorless laugh. “Only part of it, and do you really blame me? Look what happened to you last night.”
I shuddered and shook my head. “No, thanks.”
But I could see why he was content staying away from the real world. My situatio
n last night had been the first time anything like that had happened to me, but to have his fiancée stolen from him? He’d clearly been traumatized. And I could tell he wasn’t giving me the whole story.
“What else?” I asked.
He turned slowly, staring at me like I was crazy. “You really want to know? I’m just as hard as I look and sound. If I wasn’t so selfish, I’d tell you to run far, far away from me.”
“And stay here alone forever?” I murmured.
“Reyna…”
“Is that what you’re going to do now? Tell me to leave?”
Because I didn’t want to leave. Instead, I wanted to comfort him. To show him there were still things worth living for, worth believing in. To hold him against me and show him even the worst pain could be taken away.
He swallowed. “I can’t. I mean…” He reached out, fingers trailing down my cheek, and the bruise there. “I can’t tell you to leave.”
“Then don’t.”
I leaned up and kissed him on the jaw, my lips brushing barely-there stubble. He smelled like aftershave. Something spicy and sexy that had me breathing in deep. When I exhaled and my breath touched his lips, Nash yanked me against him.
“I can’t control myself when I’m around you,” he growled.
“Then don’t.”
He walked me backward so the backs of my thighs hit the edge of the desk at the same time his lips locked on mine. His tongue pushed its way into my mouth, plunging deep and making me moan.
“Nash…”
“Yes. Say it again.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Nash.”
He reached around me, grabbed my ass and hauled me up against him. His cock pressed against me, hard and ready to go. The sudden need I felt for him was as strong as a lightning strike, hitting me right between my legs. My clit throbbed. I rubbed against him, using the friction to drive myself crazy.
“Damn it, Reyna…you keep rubbing against me like that, I’m not going to be able to slow down.”
Before I could challenge this, he dropped me on top of the desk, my legs dangling over the edge. He pushed between my thighs and wrapped one hand in my hair to yank my head back. When my face was tilted to his, throat exposed, he nibbled down my neck, over my collarbone, and in the vee of my shirt.