His Demand (Dirtier Duet Book 1)

by Lisa Renee Jones

  I think of what I’ve done, of that call I made, and I lean forward and press my lips to his, but I say nothing. What can I say? What I’ve done is done. I can’t go back, and if it protects this man and my mother, I’ll live with whatever the consequences.

  He leans back and stares at me, his eyes narrowing, and I know he senses my secret, he searches for it, but I see the moment he decides he’s paranoid and I wonder: what made him paranoid? What made him question everything?

  Who hurt him?

  And can two hurt, broken people save each other? Or will we simply shatter into smaller pieces, no longer capable of ever coming together?

  He strokes my cheek. “I’m ten shades of ready to be back in the city with you in my apartment.” He leans back into his seat, opens his door, and in a few minutes, we’re inside, helping the team for our flight get Dexter settled.

  Once they take him away, I glance at Gabe. “How did you come to be so good with animals and not have one in your life until Dexter?”

  “I had a collie when I was a teen and losing him crushed me. I didn’t think I could go through that again.” There is a slice of emotion in his eyes.

  Losing that dog really hurt him. He’s so much more than his good humor.

  “What was his name?” I ask, focusing on the positive, not the end of their time together.

  “Jack.”

  “Why Jack?” I ask.

  “Because Reid hated the name and Jack in the Box was on every corner. My Jack. My Box. That’s what I told Reid because Reid had his own dog.”

  “Sibling love,” I laugh. “Were you two close growing up?”

  “Closer than you might think, considering the adult version of our lives.”

  “But you work together and I’ve heard you interact. You two seem very close.”

  “More so now than in the past.”

  He offers nothing more and I turn to look at him. “This is where I drop the topic because you said nothing more.”

  He stares forward for several beats, unmoving, more steel than man, and then he’s looking at me, his hand on my shoulders, pulling me closer. “I’ve trained myself to shut people down. It’s what I do. If you want to know something, ask. If I don’t want to talk about it, I’ll tell you. As for me and Reid, we’ve both waded through a lot of shit in the past, more when our mother died a few years ago than ever. We worked. We worked some more. We shut everyone out, including each other.”

  I have ten million new questions to ask him, but I know deep inside that if he shares this with me, if he goes deeper into this story, it will hurt him. We need to be somewhere alone, where that pain can be shielded from the world. Where we can share pieces of ourselves without an airport audience. I need to protect him the way he wants to protect me. And he does. I sense that in him. And that’s the entire point in all that I’ve done. I want to protect him. I don’t want to hurt him. I want to save him now, more than ever.

  We need to be alone.

  We need to be with each other.

  We came together for a reason.

  The end of evil. The beginning of something good: us, I think. I think me and this man really are good and it’s wonderful and terrifying. So very terrifying, because who is going to keep me from getting hurt except him? And what if he’s the one who hurts me?

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Gabe

  I don’t know what this woman is doing to me, but I don’t even recognize the me of recent days. Hell, I don’t even know that I want to recognize the me of the recent past. These are the thoughts I have during the chopper ride back to the city, with my hand on her leg or holding her hand every second of the ride. When have I ever needed to touch a woman just to touch her?

  By the time we land in the city, I’m ready to have her to myself and naked, but I don’t want a time limit on those desires. Thus why I’m quick to load us into a hired car and head to her apartment.

  Once we’re there, Abbie turns to me. “I’ll go up alone.”

  “Not happening.”

  “Dexter—”

  I lean forward and talk to the driver, palming him money and settling that problem quickly. I ease back into my seat. “Dexter now has a babysitter.”

  “Gabe—”

  “I’ll come around to get you.” I get out of the vehicle and by the time I’m at the opposite side of the SUV, Abbie is outside and shutting her door. “Gabe,” she starts again.

  I kiss her. “Abbie,” I say softly, inhaling her sweet floral scent. “Let’s go upstairs so I can fuck you here and then later all over again.”

  “I’m not fucking you in my pathetic apartment.”

  Pathetic apartment. A telling statement that says she hates where she’s landed in life, and a problem I intend to fix. “You sure about that?”

  “Very.”

  “Show me how very sure you are.”

  She laughs. “You’re crazy, Gabe Maxwell.”

  “That’s what I hear.” I lace the fingers of one of my hands with hers. “Let’s go upstairs.” I don’t give her time to object. I start walking. And so, we leave Dexter with the driver, who is once again a victim of Dexter’s charm, though I’m certain one of these drivers will end up dead at some point, but hey. I have a pathetic father who kills to get what he wants. He’ll defend me. The fact that he’s working against me with Abbie drives home my growing hate for that bastard.

  “What are your plans tomorrow?” I ask as we step into the elevator of her building, waiting until she punches her floor to pull her close. “Can you come to our office and see what a day in the life of the Maxwell operation is like?”

  “Gabe,” she says softly. “I can’t work for you. We’re…”

  I arch a brow. “We’re what?”

  “I don’t know what this is.”

  “What it is, is good. It won’t affect your job, either. I’m not an asshole and the firm is large. You literally could work there and never see me.”

  “That would still be awkward.”

  “But it won’t be for many reasons.”

  “Gabe—”

  I settle my mouth on hers, licking past her lips, a deep slide of tongue against tongue that ends with the ding of the elevator and me saying, “Just come to the office with me tomorrow. Consult with us while you find another job. I guarantee you, I can drive your marketability.” I kiss her hand. “You’re coming with me.” I lead her out of the elevator.

  “You’re being a bully,” she accuses.

  I glance over at her and stop at her door. “I told you. Only about what I want. And what I want is you.” I motion to her keys as she pulls them out of her pocket.

  “I want you, too, which is a good reason not to work together.”

  “Agree to disagree,” I say. “For now.” I reach for her keys.

  She palms her keys. “Don’t say anything about my apartment.”

  “I’ve seen it, Abbie. I’ve been here before.”

  “I know you’ve seen it but that was fast and—I know it’s humble, but it’s all mine.”

  His eyes darken, soften. “Understood. Not one word.” I hold up my fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

  “Were you a boy scout?”

  “Yes, actually. It looked good on college resumes, per my father.”

  She hands me the keys. “Aren’t you a boy when you’re in the boy scouts? A young boy?”

  “Yes. My father started plotting our college acceptances when we were in diapers.” I give the lock my attention and open the door, shoving it open. “I’m also certain that he planned our funerals before we were born.”

  She blinks at me. “I don’t know what to say to that comment.”

  “Say you’ll fuck me when we get inside.”

  “I’ll fuck you in your apartment.” With that, she enters her own.

  I follow her inside to find a modest loft-style apartment, with a cream-colored couch and two chairs sitting in front of a brick wall. Abbie turns and presses her hands to my chest. “Don’t judge
. This isn’t your fancy apartment, but it’s not a dump either.”

  “I’m not judging. Not before. Not now. You’re the one judging you and it. Stop doing that.”

  “I don’t want you to think that I need your money, Gabe. I don’t. I didn’t go after his for a reason. Money isn’t what matters to me.”

  “It matters to me,” I say. “I work hard for it and so did you by living in hell with him. You deserved to walk away with something.”

  “I did. My freedom. I needed away from him.”

  But she doesn’t have her freedom. He’s still coming at her. “You’ll have both soon, freedom and money.”

  “What does that mean, Gabe?”

  “It means you’ll launch your career again and make your own money.” I caress her cheek. “Pack.”

  She studies me for several long beats and then backs up. “I’ll hurry.” She rushes toward a set of black steel stairs and turns to face me at the bottom, seeming to want to say something and then she dashes up the steps.

  Her obvious message is wait, but I don’t wait. I stand there, staring up at the railing, waiting for her, all right. As expected, she peeks her head over and then gives me a beautiful smile that has my cock twitching.

  That’s it.

  I’m not waiting.

  I’m across the small room, in pursuit almost immediately. Wanting to know what she didn’t say. Wanting to make sure she packs enough to stay with me a while. I walk up the winding steel steps and enter what is her bedroom with no door. I find her with her back to me, seeming to stare down at the bed. I’d take this as a seductive game, but there is something about her energy, something that says this is not what it seems.

  I scan the room, taking in the full-sized bed with navy blue comforter, and Ansel Adams black and white photographs on several walls. There’s a doorway to a bathroom, I assume. Another to a closet. There isn’t much else, not even a dresser.

  Abbie still hasn’t moved and I approach her, laying my hands on her arms. She twists around to face me. “Gabe,” she whispers.

  I look down to find her holding a velvet ring box. I frown. “What is that? What’s wrong?”

  She opens it and shows me a diamond solitaire that I know from my mother’s similar ring must be a cool half a million dollars. “What are you showing me?”

  “My ring. This was my wedding ring.”

  Unease slides through me. “Are you telling me you didn’t leave with nothing?”

  “I’m telling you that I gave this back to him. It was on my bed. He was here and the message is clear, don’t you think?”

  My blood runs cold. He’s telling her and me that’s she’s his and he’s not going to let her go. He’s dangerous. My jaw sets hard. And he doesn’t know how dangerous I can be.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Gabe

  “Have you checked the other rooms?” I ask softly.

  “No, not yet.”

  “Don’t move.” I release her and walk to the closet, checking inside the tiny space, and wondering what she did with all the clothes she had as a billionaire’s wife for five years. I head to the bathroom, also tiny with no tub. I grimace. No one can hide in this tiny space. I turn back to find Abbie sitting on the end of the bed with that damn ring box in her hand, but at least she’s shut the lid. She doesn’t look at me and I take a step toward her. She stands up and throws the box, crashing it against her wall. “I hate him!” she yells. “I hate him!”

  I close the space between us and pull her to me. “We’ll end this.”

  “I’m going to end this. I’m going to end it, Gabe. I’m done playing with this man. You know what this is. His message is clear. He owns me. He can get to me anytime.”

  And I can get to him anytime I want, I think.

  “Here’s what’s clear,” I say. “He’s not being advised by my father before he makes these stupid mistakes, because my father would tell him to back off. He’d tell him that he doesn’t want to poke this tiger.”

  “He is the tiger.”

  “You underestimate me, but I forgive you. Just another reason for you to go to the office with me tomorrow.” And a reason for me to reconsider how much of me I’ve hidden from her. I cup her face. “You’re coming to stay with me. Pack enough to be with me at least a week.”

  “That’s your answer?” she demands. “Dive deeper into this? Get more involved? No. My mother told me to distance myself from you to protect you. She was right.” She shoves on my chest. “Go. Go now, Gabe.”

  Her mother.

  Her mother knows how dangerous this man is and she wants her to send me away? She should be asking me to keep her close, which is exactly what I’m going to do. “I’m not going anywhere, Abbie. And leave that for him. If he wants to come back and get it, he can. You won’t be here when he does.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Staying here.” I tilt her face to mine. “You’re coming home with me.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “You can. You will. Listen to me, Abbie. I’m not trying to control your life. I’m not trying to take your freedom, but he is. He has. And you’re with me now. We’re together.”

  “We are?”

  “Yes. We are. Do you agree with that?”

  “Do I agree?”

  “Yes, sweetheart. Do you agree?”

  “Since you asked. Yes. I agree.”

  “Good. You belong with me.”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt, Gabe.”

  “I won’t. That’s a promise. Come home with me and Dexter.”

  “You and Dexter?”

  “Yes. Me and Dexter.”

  She gives me a sweet, little smile but it doesn’t quite make it to her eyes. “I don’t think you hear me when I tell you that he’s dangerous.”

  “I do. Crystal clear. And that’s why you’re going home with me. And one day, maybe you’ll feel comfortable telling me what he did to put fear in your eyes.”

  “If you know what he is, you should know.”

  “I want to know from you, about you, and I don’t believe your mother knows, or she wouldn’t be sending me away.”

  “Gabe, I—”

  I kiss her. “Can take care of yourself. I know. But then who’s going to take care of me and Dexter?”

  Her eyes soften. “You.”

  “You,” I whisper. “Hurry. Pack up. I’m going to go downstairs and look for some booze. Point me in the right direction.”

  “Your apartment. I don’t have any.”

  “My apartment. That works for me.” I run my knuckles down her cheek before turning away.

  I walk downstairs and once I’m there, I enter the kitchen, which is a respectable size considering the rest of her apartment, complete with a long granite island where I sit down. I send a text to Lulu, asking for a number for Abbie’s mother, and then remember she’s on vacation. Fuck. I send her a “forget it” message and then text Reid: I have this situation with Abbie handled. Stay away from it.

  His reply is instant. He calls. “We’re just now about to leave for the airport. We were delayed.”

  “Fuck. You’re coming back, aren’t you?”

  “We talked about this. Yes. We are.”

  “Change of plan. Keep your new wife out of the country. Non-negotiable.”

  “Oh fuck. What are you about to do?”

  “Whatever it takes. Her asshole ex broke into her place and left a message.”

  “I’m coming back.”

  “Reid—”

  “I get it. I know you. I know you don’t exaggerate danger. Which is why I’m coming back and why I’ll leave my wife behind.”

  “She’s not going to let that happen.”

  “I’ll come up with a way to make her listen. I’ll see you in fifteen hours.” He hangs up.

  I grimace.

  Fuck. I need to work fast before he’s here and I can’t make the phone call I need to make. Lulu pretends not to get my “forget it” messages. She sends me the num
ber I wanted for Abbie’s mom, because she’s amazing, which I’ll show her with a bonus. Now that I have what I need, I step into the hallway and dial it.

  “Hello?” she answers on the first ring.

  “Why, if you know Kenneth is dangerous, would you tell Abbie to stay away from me?”

  “Gabe,” she says softly.

  “Answer.”

  “Because the best way to ruin a good thing is with an old good thing that was never good. He’s going to come after you to hurt her.”

  “And you think he won’t come after her if I’m not involved?”

  “He won’t care when we sell the property to him. This is all about the property.”

  That gives me pause. “Why does he want it?”

  “I don’t know. I just know that he’s coming at us hard and fast and he didn’t do that until this property became an issue for him. Once it’s gone, she’s free. And I’m going to give her her freedom. I’d like you to still be standing when that happens.”

  My jaw sets. “I will be, but he won’t and you aren’t selling the property. I told you. Wait. I have this handled.”

  “Back out of this, Gabe.”

  “No. I will not back out of this and leave Abbie, and you for that matter, or even the animals, to deal with this alone. I’m in this. I’m with your daughter. The end.” I hang up.

  The door opens and Abbie appears. “Gabe?”

  “Yes, sweetheart? Are you ready?”

  “Yes. I have a suitcase and—I really shouldn’t be doing this.”

  “Yes. You should.” I slide my hand under her hair and lower my mouth to hers. “I meant it when I said you belong with me.” I brush my lips over hers, and the tremble of her mouth beneath mine tells me how affected she is by the connection. Good. Because I’m fucking quaking inside for this woman. I’m taking her home. I’m taking her from him.

  The end.

  His end.

  ***