Takedown: An Enemies to Lovers Dark Romance

by Lana Hartley

  Still, even though I knew I’d buy one of my employees these...and even though I teased Elia about this...I regretted buying the iPhone for Elia because I wanted it to be more than a business gift. I wanted to get her something she needed. Like some old hat sexist shit or something, right?

  Elia seems confused and her big eyes look up into mine. “But why?”

  “So you can get to work on time.” I smile, teasing her.

  She closes her mouth and her lips form a thin line. No longer in shock. And she’s not all that excited by the gift.

  “Well, you didn’t have to buy me the latest iPhone. I can’t believe you bought something so expensive.” It’s as if she’s trying to hide the obvious embarrassment on her face.

  “No,” I insist. “I bought for you what I would have bought for myself.” I should tell her that I bought the same for my assistant. But instead of making it professional, I’m making it personal.

  Elia smiles as she puts it back in the box. “Thank you.”

  I’m about to say something more when she starts walking towards the door. I follow her, admiring the backless dress that reveals even more of that gorgeous body of hers.

  She’s so damn sexy that my natural reaction is to maybe skip dinner entirely and fuck her. It doesn’t seem like such a bad idea...but I also want to talk to Elia because she wanted to talk.

  Well, that’s different for me.

  I don’t do the whole talking, getting to know a girl thing.

  I do the fuck and forget thing.

  Elia turns to close the door and lock it behind her, then she turns back to me, holding her hand out tentatively. I don’t hesitate to take it and tug her hand under my elbow.

  We’re silent as I lead the way to my car, parked by the curb. I open the door for her, and wait for her to get in before closing the door. I go around to my own side and get inside.

  “Do you have any preference on where we’ll eat?”

  “I thought you, having asked me, would have that in mind?” Elia’s eyes look directly into mine, and as I’m looking at her, I feel like I’m in some cheesy movie shot where the camera spins all around us, and I hold in a breath for a second.

  She turns away from me, maybe finding my stare too intense. But I thought I saw a flicker of something in her eyes that was just something more. Something of the heat and attraction that I felt, returned.

  “I have a few ideas, sure,” I say, following her gaze.

  Elia’s looking right at the bulge in my trousers.

  Like what you see?

  I know most women do.

  There’s a footlong trying to find space in my slacks, and there’s not much. I decide against shifting so it is less obvious. Elia’s looking and if she wanted to hide it, she’s not doing so well. My eyes fall from her hungry stare to taking in the sight of the tops of her breasts, moving so slightly with her every breath.

  What the fuck is she doing to me?

  Everything’s out of control inside my head right now and I fucking want her.

  First I ask her out on a date. Well, tell her.

  I don’t date. I just fuck.

  So how come, as much as I’m desperate to taste Elia, do I also want to know her. I remember that I’m not supposed to just sit here and whine to you but actually talk to the woman I want to wrap in my arms. I clear my throat, attempting to clear out my distracted thoughts.“So, what do you think you’re in the mood for?”

  She smiles and looks up at me. “Well, my friend...and supervisor, Dana, the one that you met today? She loves Thai food and she usually cooks something and shares it with me at lunch. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to eat in a real Thai restaurant.”

  There’s something so...pure about Elia. The way she delights in things, how in the moment she is. Like, vivacious. Supple...okay that one’s for her breasts. But I feel like the air around me is fresher or something when I’m around her.

  And she’s nothing like the girls I usually fucked. If I dated them, they’d want wined and dined at whatever restaurant Zagat says is worth going to, and they’d just enjoy getting the most expensive thing on the menu, even if they barely eat it.

  Elia just has a fresh idea...something new she wants to experience. “You mean that you’ve never eaten in a Thai restaurant?”

  She shakes her head. “Never.”

  Maybe she can see the shock on my face, because she whispers, “Pathetic, right?”

  I sigh, cocking my head to the side and smiling. “Not really. It’s kind of cute.”

  I adjust in the seat, thinking that if I don’t control myself then I’ll lean in and kiss her right now. It seems like a lifetime ago, but earlier today this girl wanted to talk to me. Elia seemed like she could barely decide if she liked me.

  There’s something about her now that’s...not hesitant, not even weary. Just. Innocent. It excites the animal in me but brings out this new feeling in the pit of my stomach that I don’t quite recognize.

  Worry?

  I don’t want to hurt Elia.

  Okay, so I’ve met me. You have too, even though you’re just now getting to know more about me. But you know guys like me. Manwhores.

  See, when I’m not treating sick little kids, I’m fucking random socialites and closing business deals. I don’t care for or have time for relationships...and now I think I actually want to date Elia. I know I want to fuck her. So I need to keep from fucking her life up when I just want to make it better.

  But the gift didn’t go over all that well. I don’t think I actually know how to date someone. I am pretty sure that after I fuck her that there’s more to just fucking her again. I mean maybe I can get away with having her come back for more orgasms, but I want to know her. I want to know what Elia cares about.

  Right now, that’s Thai food. I know just the place, and I never imagined I’d bring anyone here. I usually come here with a tablet and eat Gai Med Ma Moung while I flip through prospectuses for potential investments.

  “I know a place that’s actually not too far from here, Elia,” I say, gripping the while harder when I see her bite her lip when I say her name. “The food will have you wanting to eat Thai for the rest of your life.”

  She claps her hands. “Sounds like fun.” I love her unbridled enthusiasm.

  It will be. I’m excited to talk with Elia, and maybe put her mind at ease about my possible purchase of the bookstore.

  I haven’t actually had dinner with a woman in a long time, preferring to not give them the impression that I want to date them. So I guess I got the dinner part right about dating, and she seems genuinely satisfied that I know a good place for her to try Thai.

  My cock twitches at her little laugh and how it makes her breasts rise up for a second. They’re straining against the fabric, and my cock is tenting in my slacks so hard it is threatening to bust out.

  But I resist. I can wait for dessert.

  Elia

  “So tell me about yourself, Elia,” Eric says as we pull into the restaurant. Thai Palace. I’m kind of shocked to see that it’s not fancy at all. I look down at my dress and wonder how foolish I look.

  Date or meeting, I still dressed like I was going, in a very slutty fashion, to some fancy restaurant. The truth is, though, that it definitely put me at ease to see that he wasn’t showing off.

  I think Eric doesn’t even realize that the iPhone was a kind of extravagant gift. Particularly for a girl that he just met.

  “Umm,” I mumble. I’m not sure what to say. “I’ve always wanted to work in a bookstore.” My words are at least a little pointed. I still don’t need a fidget spinner extravaganza taking over my dreams. “I don’t have a boyfriend...I’ve never really had one. I’m friends with the girls at the store, and I tend to spend most of my time reading.” Oh god, why did I say any of that? I start talking faster, and my eyes feel like they are going to pop out of my head. “As you can tell I’m not that interesting and am like one step away from being a crazy cat lady, but I don
’t like cats.”

  “That’s the one step, huh, then?” Eric says with a laugh. He walks around the car and opens my door. “I’ve never been in a very serious relationship, either. I don’t like cats but Rose does.”

  I cock my head to the side.

  Eric actually looks flustered. His eyes are wide now. “Rose is my daughter. Well, in every way that matters…” Eric smiles at me.

  “Wow. I never would have guessed Mr. Fidget Spinner was a baby daddy,” I say, trying to sound like I’m not freaked out.

  Okay, so that’s unfair. But you don’t understand...I may be a virgin, but I’ve always wanted to be a mom. I don’t date because I don’t want to mess around with men that aren’t serious about family.

  So how did I find a guy who says he’s never been in a serious relationship...and he already has a kid?

  Eric puts his hand on the small of my back, and we walk toward the restaurant.

  “She’s mine because someone...they left her on my doorstep, at my medical office.” Eric swallows.

  “Oh, that’s so sad,” I say and shake my head. “I sound so stupid. I’m so sorry that I said that. I...I am so sorry that my life is so boring you had to tell me a bunch of stuff that’s really personal. I have personal shit you don’t tell on dates, like not first dates or business meetings—”

  “Elia,” Eric says through a laugh. “It’s okay.” He opens the door and shoots me this charming look. A woman behind the counter actually looks him up and down as we enter. He is just too good looking to not get ogled. “I actually feel like I can tell you anything.”

  I chew on my lip and look away from him. I feel something inside that makes me feel like I can trust him too.

  Gah, you must think I’m crazy.

  Eric must as well.

  But all that cockiness seems to have faded away. His charm feels genuine, warm.

  He orders for us, which I don’t mind at all because I don’t know anything about Thai food, really. I couldn’t even pronounce the words!

  “I’ve never come here with someone before. Rose is only six so most stuff is not exactly palatable to her,” Eric says, running his finger over mine my hand across the table.

  Dinner is full of light flirting and delicious flavors.

  I didn’t know where to begin with asking him about the store, and I don’t want to talk about it for tonight.

  Maybe I’m weird but I start thinking about my conversation with Ryan, and my gut tells me not to talk about the store.

  And even though I’m enjoying dinner, that nagging feeling in my gut has me thinking, shit, if Eric does buy the store, then I probably shouldn’t be dating him.

  “Let me get the check and get you home. Don’t want you late for work tomorrow,” Eric says with that smile that makes me tingle down to my toes just thinking about him.

  “We had such a nice dinner,” I say, poking his arm. “I don’t know why you want to stir me up now.” I waggle my eyebrows at him.

  Eric runs his hand from the nape of my neck to my spine, pressing his lips against my ear with a whisper. “Maybe I like my dessert stirred.” His warm breath against my ear makes my pussy ache with an intensity that I’ve never felt before. While he pays, I decide ...tonight’s the night I’m going to lose my virginity. I wasn’t sure how this would happen. I wondered if it ever would. But the way I feel right now, I know that I can’t resist the very real temptation before me, and I don’t want to.

  Elia

  “Dinner was lovely, Eric. Thank you for tonight,” I say as he pulls along the curb in front of my studio apartment. He’s been very flirtatious all evening, keeping his hand on the small of my back as he escorted me to and from the restaurant, slight touches throughout dinner, and that dangerously sexy smile he’s flashed.

  The truth is, I’ve been flirting, too. I was confused about what I wanted when the evening began, but that question was quickly answered with how wonderful dinner was. It didn’t turn to be any business meeting, and I didn’t want it to be.

  He puts the car in park and wraps his strong hand over mine… and there’s that smile again. I simply can’t hide the blush I know is tinged on my cheeks. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, Elia.” His thumb slowly glides across my knuckles, and there’s a knowing look glinting in his eyes. I’m totally out of my element with Eric, but he’s so charming and handsome, and I don’t want this night to end here.

  “Would you like to come in for a drink? I mean, I think I have some wine…” I trail off, second guessing myself. I shake my head and take a deep breath before dragging my lip between my teeth.

  “Elia?” Eric begins, cupping my face. “Only invite me in if you’re sure that’s what you want.” His voice is low and husky, and I have to tighten my thighs to settle the heat that sizzles through my core.

  I asked him inside, and I know I don’t want this night to end, but where do I want this night to go? I’m untouched, a virgin saving myself for when I’m ready to give myself freely to someone—I made that promise to myself. Unsure of myself, I throw caution to the wind and open the car door and swing my legs out. I turn my head back at Eric and ask, “Coming?” before stepping onto the sidewalk. I heard a low grumble under his breath, and I want to ask him to confirm what I think I heard, but I’m not sure I can handle the answer.

  I unlock the door to my apartment and step inside. Eric closes the door behind himself and follows me into the kitchen where I’m busying myself pulling wine glasses from the cabinet. I place them on the counter and smile up at him sheepishly. Watching him roll his sleeves up to his elbows, the chords of his muscular arms flexing with each movement has my heart thundering in my chest. Why do I feel so flush, so… hot? I swipe at my head then open the refrigerator and lean in to see what wines I have.

  Strong hands grip my hips, and I feel him behind me, his fingers kneading into my flesh. I inhale a long breath of air and stand up, feeling his hardness press against my bottom. Oh. My. Word. He leans in and trails the tip of his nose along the curve of my neckline, and I latch my fingers around his thighs, needing anything to steady my balance. “Eri…” his name falls short on my breath as his lips pepper delicate kisses up my throat, his hands roving over the fabric of my dress. I wanted to look beautiful for him tonight. He inspires that notion in me; I can’t explain why, possibly my attraction to him is just that strong? And judging by the way his hands are actively clawing over me, his kisses growing more fervent and delicious with each pass over my skin, I’d say my objective was achieved.

  He spins me around and presses my back against the counter. “I’m more in the mood for dessert, Elia.” He clutches the nape of my neck and pulls me toward him, his lips crashing over mine. He kisses me so hungrily and fast paced, I can’t keep up. His hands rove over every inch of bare skin he can find until he reaches the neckline of my dress, and his hands shred at the fabric, ripping it from my chest. I’m so lost in the sensation of his hands and mouth working over me so rapidly that I don’t even pay mind to the expensive dress that I couldn’t afford to begin with is now a heap of mangled fabric on the floor. I can’t even process the idea of being laid out and exposed to this Greek God of a man who’s using my body for his own pleasure. Just the sensation of his touch has me flustered and in a dream-like state.

  He fingers find my nipples as his mouth moves down my chest like he’s a starved man who hasn’t eaten in days, and a spark of lust shoots right through my belly. Suddenly, my panties feel damp, and the heat of my skin intensifies.

  “Eric, oh…” I whine as his lips enclose around my nipple, his fingers slowly trailing down my belly and skimming the waistline of my panties. I know I should stop him from going any farther, this isn’t how I expected the night to move so quickly, but I don’t want it to stop. I can’t explain the way my body feels. Electric, excited, needy. But I need more of whatever he’s willing to give me, virginity be damned.

  Eric thrusts me up onto the counter and steps back, his eyes appreciating the sight
before him with a devilish smirk tipping the corners of his full lips. I want to feel those lips caressing over my body. He loosens his shirt from his pants then rips at the buttons, his eyes never leaving mine. I feel like I’m the sacrificial lamb at the altar, a gift for him. He props my heel-clad feet up on the counter, spreading my legs apart. His fingers softly dance down my thigh, and just the possibility of him touching my sacred place sends a thrill of nervous energy through me. I struggle to protest, my mouth opening but I can’t find the words, then the thought escapes me as his face disappears. I pierce my eyes closed, knowing I’m not ready for this and I need to make him stop before things go too far, but when his nose skims the lace of my panties and I hear him heave in a breath, I melt. I tighten my thighs, but he splays his palms against them and presses them farther apart.

  “Now, now, Elia. I gave you two warnings. One,” his index finger slips beneath my panties and swipes through my heat, “only invite me in if you’re sure that’s what you want. Do you remember?” His finger glides against my lips, and my eyes fall closed from the pleasure and a groan falls from the lips. Eric chuckles to himself, then continues, “And two, I’m in the mood for dessert.”

  In one fell swoop my panties are ripped down the sides, and his mouth plunges against my pussy. I don’t even have time to stop him before he’s devouring me like a man starved. My back bows from the counter, and my breathing catches in my chest. He isn’t sweet and sensual—he’s ravenous. Nipping, licking, sucking roughly against my heat. I writhe against the counter, my body so sensitive to his touch, but greedy for more. I don’t know if I want to buck my pussy toward him or scramble away from his hungry mouth.

  He grunts, his eyes meeting mine in warning as his large hand splays against my stomach and holds me in place. Suddenly, he plunges a finger deep inside of me and crooks it upward and holy hell… I can’t breathe, my brain is a gray cloud of overwhelming emotions, and my body racks with trembles.