The Hotel Magnate's Demand

by Jennifer Rae

  She knew Luke had changed. The cold, distant boy had grown into a warm and passionate man. But there was still some of the lonely workaholic buried there. Someone who was used to being on his own and who got uncomfortable if he felt someone was getting too close. That was why he’d fled earlier.

  Or maybe he was avoiding her because he didn’t want this to turn into anything. He hadn’t wanted her to come over here in the first place. Perhaps he wasn’t scared of relationships but of a relationship with her. He knew who she was. Who she’d been. He knew her deepest, darkest secrets. Perhaps he couldn’t take this or her seriously because deep down he still believed her to be the silly party girl she’d been eight years ago.

  Amy swallowed to moisten her dry throat. Her past had finally caught up with her. She’d spent the last eight years running and hiding but now it had caught up. She was all exposed, out in the open, and she felt eighteen again. Young. Naïve. Scared and not knowing what to do next.

  Amy stood and grabbed at her shawl and clutch. She wasn’t eighteen again. She wasn’t. She was twenty-six. Things had changed—she’d changed. She’d grown up, even though she didn’t feel she had sometimes. She knew what she wanted. She wanted Luke and she didn’t want to do anything stupid again. Like trying to make him jealous.

  If her past had taught her anything it was that she should tell people how she felt and not try and manipulate them with jealousy and mixed messages and silence. Bad things happened when you did that. It was time to be direct with Luke. If he was avoiding her because he didn’t want to be with her she needed to know. Before she got in any deeper. Before she started to think crazy things like he actually felt something for her.

  She escaped the darkness of the bar and travelled down quickly in the elevator. Her heels clacked across the paved footpath.

  She checked her phone. GPS said his office was just four blocks away. Four blocks for her to figure out what she was going to say. Four blocks until she told him that she needed to know what was going on. Four blocks and she was going to tell him how she felt. And he needed to tell her too.

  There was a time to be working but this wasn’t it. She knew he was using his work as a sort of emotional shield. This was classic old Luke. For all his appearance of changing and maturing, becoming a man who’d dealt with his past, he was still haunted by it. Was working too hard to avoid dealing with things. Like he had at Weeping Reef.

  Luke had all but admitted earlier that he’d felt shut out when his mother died. His father had spent all his time worrying about Willa, which had left no one to worry about Luke. A man who’d hidden his emotions and feelings about his mother’s death by burying himself in studying and then working himself into the ground ever since.

  That was why he hadn’t participated in the staff’s lives back on Weeping Reef. That was why he’d partied with them all but had always left when they’d got drunk and started talking about their feelings. That was why he’d done nothing when he’d seen her and Justin together that night. Denial. Emotional avoidance.

  She should have seen it long ago. Her marketing training had given her the ability to peg everyone’s consumer behaviour. She should have seen that Luke wasn’t buying into love or even close emotional relationships because he couldn’t deal with them. Willa, his father, his staff and his friends...and now her.

  It wasn’t fair. He’d made her feel as if he actually felt something for her, but he wasn’t going to take it anywhere. She could see that now. He would just keep pushing her away because he didn’t want to get close to her. She’d revealed herself to him over the last two weeks. He’d known her emotionally, mentally and physically in more ways than any other man ever had—even Laurie.

  And now he was pushing her away. As if all of that didn’t matter. As if she couldn’t be trusted with his feelings. She’d trusted him with her deepest, darkest secret and he didn’t trust her. How. Dared. He?

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THERE WAS NO way Amy could have told anyone how she’d covered those few blocks to Luke’s office. She wasn’t sure how she’d made it there herself. But she was mad. Mad at Luke for putting her off and not having enough respect to let her in on what he was thinking. Mad at her family and Laurie for making her feel so bad about wanting more—about wanting to leave them to make the life that she wanted, not the one they wanted. And mad at the man who had attacked her.

  He was the one who made doubts creep into her mind when they shouldn’t. He was the loser who’d taken her to the beach that night when she was full of booze and tried to have sex with her when she wasn’t ready.

  He’d called her a tease. A slut. He’d told her she deserved it when he’d pushed her down onto the sand and pulled his jeans down. He’d hissed angrily in her ear as he’d pushed her head closer to his penis. And she’d been too young to be angry. All she’d been was terrified.

  She’d pushed and shoved and kicked and screamed and yelled until finally she’d got away. And after that she’d felt nothing but guilt and shame. As if she’d done something wrong. But she hadn’t. Walking to the beach with him that night and kissing him had never been an invitation. They were human beings, not animals, and when she’d said no he should have respected it.

  But he hadn’t. He hadn’t respected what she’d wanted. Neither had Laurie and now neither did Luke.

  Amy was shaking by the time she found Luke’s building and pushed open the door. It was late, but there were still people around. She found the name of his company on the list and pushed the ‘up’ button for the lift.

  Luke was not going to disrespect her. He was going to listen whether he liked it or not. He was going to hear what she wanted and he was going to give it to her—or at least give her a reason why he couldn’t.

  The lift was empty when she stepped in and pushed the button.

  He had work to do—she understood that. Her own career was hectic, and she knew how easy it was to neglect your relationships when you needed to work. But that shouldn’t happen. Everyone needed a life outside of work. Otherwise work was pointless. Life was no fun without friends and family and people to share it with.

  Maybe Luke didn’t realise that yet. Tonight he was going to learn that lesson.

  The foyer of Luke’s office was deserted. The lights in the area behind the reception desk were off. Amy headed towards the light down the hall, her heels muffled on the carpet.

  She heard his voice before she saw him.

  ‘We’ve been over this a dozen times. Our staff numbers have not escalated. The figure we gave you at the start of the year is the same. We’ve hired additional contractors for the build, that’s all.’

  A pause.

  ‘As I discussed with your planning manager, we’ve got that organised. We’re just waiting on supplies.’

  Another pause.

  ‘Ms Huynh, I respect your policies, but this has gone on for three months. I’m losing money and this project is in danger of falling over. I understand that...I respect that, but...Yes. I understand. I will take care of it and have it to you within the hour. Goodbye.’

  When Luke looked up he jumped in his chair.

  ‘Amy! What are you doing here? I didn’t hear you.’

  Luke’s hair was askew, as if he’d run his hands through it a million times. His eyes were lined with red streaks and his tie was off. He looked tired. Overwhelmed. The words that Amy had been practising evaporated. Luke was stressed—she could see that. She knew how that felt. When there were a dozen things to achieve and you felt as if you were the only one who could do them. As if the weight of the world was on your shoulders. She understood his need to get his work done.

  It wasn’t fair of him to exclude her, but when she saw him smile she knew she wasn’t ready to give up on him. Without speaking Amy walked to his side and turned his chair to face her.

  ‘What are you doin
g here? I’m sorry this is taking so long, Amy. You look gorgeous...What time is it?’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Damn. I’m sorry, babe.’ He put his hands on her hips and met her eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’

  When Amy looked into Luke’s eyes she realised that work was his life because it had to be. He’d been on his own for ever. The only thing he knew was to get the job done on his own. Maybe working had served him well when things in his personal life had got rough. But that was in the past, and the past was over.

  ‘What are you doing here, Luke?’

  ‘I just have to get this finished. It won’t take too much longer. I’m sorry, Amy. I’m not great company at the moment.’

  ‘Don’t you have people to do this for you? It’s ten o’clock.’

  ‘I have to get this finished.’

  ‘I understand that, Luke. But that’s not why you’re here so late and not with me, is it?’

  His brow furrowed.

  ‘You’re here because you don’t want to deal with me. With us. You’re using work as a way of not dealing with what’s happening between us.’

  ‘Amy...’

  ‘No. Stop avoiding me. Don’t do that again. Look what happened the last time we stopped talking to each other.’

  ‘Amy, it’s just not simple...’

  ‘No, it’s not simple. Life gets complicated and sometimes you have to take a risk. I’m willing to take that risk, Luke, but are you?’

  His eyes searched hers and his hands didn’t leave her hips. Then he breathed in deeply. ‘It’s late, Amy, and I’m tired. I’m sorry that I didn’t come and meet you. I lost track of time, that’s all. I’m not avoiding you, or using work to not deal with anything. I just need to get this done.’

  For some reason his speech made Amy sad. She’d wanted him to say yes, that he was willing to take the risk. She’d wanted him to say more. She wasn’t sure what, but...more.

  ‘I can see you thinking, Lolli. And worrying. Don’t.’ He pulled her in closer and her arms fell around his shoulders. ‘Everything’s fine. We’re fine. I’ve got you. I just need to get this done.’

  Amy wanted to shout and demand that he tell her he wanted her. She wanted him to explain why he was here and not with her. She wanted to know what the hell was going on. But he’d said ‘we’re fine’, as if there actually was a ‘we’, so instead she just rubbed the back of her hand on the stubble that had formed on his cheek.

  His face seemed so familiar to her now. So comfortable in such a short space of time. She knew every line and eyelash. She wanted answers, but she knew he wasn’t going to give her any. Not tonight anyway. He was distracted and stressed and instead of demanding the answers she desperately needed now all Amy wanted to do was help. She wanted to massage him, run her hands over the tight, worn muscles on his body—make him feel better.

  ‘I tell you what—how about I help you with this? Then we can go back to the hotel and you can show me that everything’s fine.’

  His face broke out into a wide smile. ‘I wish...But you can’t help, Lolli. I’ve got to do this on my own.’

  Amy’s hand flew off his cheek and gripped his shirt—hard. His eyes opening wide in surprise.

  ‘Do you have any idea who I am?’ she asked, going for a sinister look on her face.

  Luke raised an eyebrow in a fantastically sexy move that made Amy’s body heat in the way only he could make it do.

  ‘I am Bird Marketing’s number one PR executive. I’ve negotiated deals and organised campaigns that have made millions of dollars. My skills are legendary and I’m here, practically sitting on your lap...’ Luke shifted his legs and she moved in closer—so close her breasts were almost touching his chin. A violent shiver rolled up Amy’s spine at the heat of him so close. ‘I demand you take advantage of me.’

  Heat shone in Luke’s eyes as they shifted to her lips. His hands grabbed her hips violently and shoved her closer to him till the heat of his chest burned through her dress and right into her now throbbing core.

  ‘I don’t answer to demands.’

  His teeth bit down on his bottom lip as he moved his head closer to her breast. She saw what he was planning, and her nipples ached to feel his mouth on them, but she pushed him back.

  ‘Then we should negotiate.’

  ‘I don’t negotiate.’

  She peered down at him, her eyebrow raised the same way as his, and she saw the same reaction in him as she’d felt. His hands skated up her back and pulled her in tighter, but again she pulled back.

  He reconsidered. ‘What would your opening offer be?’

  She pretended to think as she held him back. She strained against him as his mouth sought her breasts. ‘How about this? You spend at least an hour kissing my entire body and I’ll help you with whatever’s going on here. Then we go back to the hotel and I’ll spend an hour kissing your entire body.’

  He considered her for a second, before his mouth reached for her breasts. She had to push against him violently so he could not make contact. His face flushed and she knew what he wanted. She’d seen that look in his eyes so many times.

  Amy reached down to lift the edge of her dress up over her knee, then shifted herself so she was sitting in his lap. She wanted to find a way to make him feel better...she wanted to help. First by relaxing his mind and then by seeing what she could do to make his job a little easier. Now she was perched on Luke’s long legs her breasts were tantalisingly close to his mouth. She knew he was frantic by now—she could feel him hard beneath her. This was the help he needed right now. Physical release.

  ‘Deal,’ he said gruffly, and his lips met her neck with a violent, deep kiss.

  Amy let out a satisfying moan as his hands pulled her in close. She couldn’t hold him back any more. His mouth kissed up her neck to her mouth and his kiss was hard and demanding. She pulled away, breathless—her entire body pulsating with white-hot desire for him.

  ‘You haven’t really grasped the concept of negotiation, have you?’

  He kissed her neck again, then slipped his thumb under the strap of her dress to lift her it off her shoulder. When it dropped her breast spilled free, and he hesitated for only a second before cupping it in his big hand and slipping her nipple into his mouth. Her head fell back. She moved her hips to feel him hard and strong against her.

  ‘I’ve achieved the outcome I wanted,’ he said, only lifting his mouth off for a second to answer her.

  ‘You’re easily pleased. But unfortunately for you, I’m not. My expectations for this deal are high, Mr Moore.’

  ‘They will be exceeded, Miss McCarthy.’

  She wanted to say, We’ll see, but she didn’t get a chance to. He lifted her up off the seat and had her back on the desk before she could speak. With one sweeping move her flimsy dress was over her head and all that lay between them was a very small item of underwear.

  Amy fumbled at his belt buckle but he removed that for her too. His manic desire for her turned her on. The look in his eyes turned her on. The way they’d come to an agreement turned her on. She was gone. She knew that now. There was no turning back and no caution. She was his and he needed to know that.

  Tonight there was no time for talking, but tomorrow—there would have to be. Because Amy could feel herself slipping into a feeling she knew she’d not be able to get herself out of.

  ‘Off—it needs to be off.’ She tugged at her underwear and he helped her remove it before climbing on top of her, his knees perched on the desk.

  First he used his hands to stroke the length of her body. Not missing anything. Touching everywhere. He left a wake of trembling flesh, and Amy did what she’d learned to do with Luke—let go. There was no use trying to stay in control when she was with him and no use worrying.

  She closed her eyes for a moment to enjoy his touch, then opened them. She wante
d to see him watching her. She wanted to know him. When they were together like this there was no thinking or negotiating. They just did.

  Using each other’s sounds as a guide, they slid their way around each other’s bodies, kissing and teasing and tasting until one or the other had had enough. This time it was Amy. She grabbed at his hips and moved them where she needed them to be. To where she was hot and swollen. She couldn’t take another second without feeling him there.

  She gasped when he entered her. No matter how many times she felt him inside her, it always surprised her. It wasn’t just his size, it was the way he moved—as if he was hitting every spot she had, as if he knew exactly what she wanted. He thrust hard and she tried not to make a noise. She couldn’t remember if she’d seen anyone else in the office, but with him moving like that she wasn’t sure if she cared.

  ‘Thank you for coming, Amy,’ he whispered, letting his chest fall onto her.

  ‘You’re—’ She gasped again as he raised himself up to thrust once more. ‘Welcome!’

  It came out as a moan and Luke smiled, knowing she was ready. The thrusting became deeper. Amy lifted her hips to meet him, her feet wrapped hard around his buttocks. She still wasn’t sure if there was anyone else in the office but right now she didn’t care. She had to cry out.

  He gripped the back of her neck and lifted her up off the desk. His thrusts became purposeful and his face took on the angry, dirty look she knew so well. He was almost there, and Amy wanted to come with him.

  Quickly she took his hand and let it slip between them. He knew what to do. His thumb circled her clitoris. First slowly, then more frantically and violently. Her orgasm grew. He felt her shake. He moved with her until her final scream pronounced her done, and as she shook he let himself tip over the edge as well, a deep, satisfied moan leaving his lips as she took everything he had to offer, cupped his chin with both hands and watched his mind clear of all his worries and be consumed by one thing. Her. Them. Now.