Forever Yours, Sir (Doms of Decadence)

by Laylah Roberts

“Okay then.”

  ***

  Hunter looked up as Gray entered his office, glancing up at the clock on his wall.

  “You were quick. I thought you’d still be showing Cady around the apartment.” It had taken everything he had to wait here patiently while Gray picked Cady up and showed her around; made sure she had everything she needed.

  He’d never actually felt jealous of his buddy until this morning.

  “She wanted to come right here. I just got her settled at her desk, gave her the contract to look through.”

  “What?” Hunter stood up. She was here? “What is she doing here? She just arrived, she should be settling in. Doesn’t she want to unpack?”

  “Yeah, well, she didn’t exactly bring a whole lot with her.”

  “Has she even had anything to eat? Damn it, Gray, you should have insisted she take it easy today.”

  “She’s my employee not my sub,” Gray countered and Hunter had to bite back a growl as the image of Cady kneeling at Gray’s feet drifted through his mind. Fuck, he was feeling way too possessive.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  Gray nodded. “I’ve got some work to do on the Emerson case. Tiny will be back soon, you’ll need to talk to him about her training.”

  Hunter nodded. He wanted to train her himself, but that would be a mistake. He needed to keep his distance from her. Like Gray said, she was their employee.

  Yeah, he’d give her some space.

  Starting tomorrow.

  Cady looked up from the contract Gray had left her with as a shadow crossed her desk. Hunter stood there, staring down at her. Instantly her body tightened, a slow flush of arousal heating her from the inside out. Damn, she’d hoped that had been a one-time thing, but it seemed her body was bound and determined to react to him, no matter what she might think on the matter.

  “Hello, Hunter.”

  “Cady, good to see you.”

  Wow, this wasn’t awkward or anything.

  “Something I can help you with?” she asked. After all, he was her boss; she had to attempt to be polite.

  “Just checking to see if you had everything you needed. You’ll be sharing this office with Tiny.”

  She’d already checked out the excessively tidy and organized desk on the other side of the room. She wasn’t a messy person, but that desk bordered on OCD levels of tidiness.

  “So Gray told me.”

  Hunter just nodded. “You didn’t have to come right here. You could have settled in first.”

  She shrugged. “Thought I might as well. Nothing else to do.”

  “Have you had breakfast?”

  She bit back the urge to tell him it was none of his fucking business.

  “I’m fine.”

  He watched her thoughtfully. “There are muffins and coffee in the staff room.”

  She nodded. “Was there something else?” she asked when he just stood there.

  “Gray explained that you were under some misconceptions about why I offered you this job, I just wanted to check that you knew I didn’t mean—”

  “I know,” she interrupted. “I misunderstood.” God, this was mortifying.

  He nodded and turned around. She let out a deep sigh of relief. Then he suddenly faced her again. “Do you have your pepper spray on you?”

  “Oh, well, about that, I’m really sorry…” she trailed off as he waved his hand dismissively.

  “We’ll discuss that another time. But you can’t go around spraying anyone in the office with that shit, got me?”

  “Really?” She mock-pouted. “Now you’re just ruining all my fun.”

  He pointed a finger in her direction. “Behave. Just do as you’re told and things will be fine.”

  “Sir, yes, Sir.” She barely refrained from saluting him and that was only because the look in his eyes suggested he was anything but amused. She swallowed heavily. “I’ll leave it in my bag.”

  “See that you do.”

  “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, what the hell have I gotten myself into?” she muttered to herself as he left.

  ***

  Cady flung herself onto the sofa in the two-bedroom apartment. This place was really nice, far nicer than the apartment she’d had when she’d lived in Baton Rouge. God, she was exhausted. Three weeks she’d been working at Black-Gray and she’d spent most of that time in the gym with Jaron or the firing range with Tiny.

  Her skills were a bit rusty, but they were returning. However, she was more unfit than she’d realized, months of poor nutrition had really done a number on her.

  It would be so easy to give up and run back to her old, safe life and a number of times she’d found herself poised to do just that. But when she’d thought it through she’d been disgusted with herself. She was tired of running from things.

  Still, she didn’t feel settled. This place wasn’t hers. She had yet to really earn the pay checks that had been deposited in her bank account; all she’d done was create work for everyone else. When she wasn’t with Tiny or Jaron, she was answering phones and filing papers. Not exactly what she’d imagined, but she could understand why Gray didn’t want her doing anything more yet. She’d be a liability out in the field until she was up to speed.

  Surprisingly, she found herself liking the other guys at Black-Gray. Tiny didn’t say much, but that suited her fine, she wasn’t into chitchat and Jaron more than made up for Tiny’s silence. Josh and Curt were friendly guys and even Connor sent her the occasional wave when he looked up from his computer.

  The only person who she hadn’t had much to do with was Hunter. Sure, he, Josh, and Connor had been away on a job for the first week she’d been here, but even after they’d gotten back he’d said barely two words to her. She got the feeling that he was avoiding her.

  She rubbed her eyes as she yawned. Jaron had pushed her hard today and she was spent. But she knew she’d feel even worse if she didn’t get up and into a bath.

  Cady laughed quietly to herself as she moved slowly into the bathroom. She felt like she’d aged a hundred years. She wouldn’t be capable of swatting a fly in the condition she was in.

  Bending over, she put the plug in the bathtub and turned on the water. A knock on her front door had her groaning. Turning, she shuffled her way to the door, looking out the peephole. Her heart stopped for one agonizing moment. She forced herself to take a deep breath as she leaned her forehead against the wooden door.

  What the hell was he doing here?

  The door rattled as he knocked again. Christ, he wasn’t going to go away, was he? Much as she wished she could hide, she knew that was cowardly and Cady was sick of letting fear rule her actions.

  She undid the two bolts and turned the key, opening the door. At least this place had plenty of security. Not only did the door have more locks and bolts that Fort Knox, but there was a security system and panic buttons in each of the rooms.

  Hunter scowled as she pulled the door open. “You didn’t ask who it was.”

  Cady rolled her eyes. “I looked in the peephole and saw you.”

  “There could have been someone out of eyesight holding a gun on me.”

  “Right, because that happens every day. How would asking who it was even help?”

  “I’d have found some way to warn you.”

  She leaned against the doorway. “What are you doing here, Hunter?”

  He held up a white bag. “I brought dinner. Chinese.” He moved forward and she had no choice but to step aside and let him in. After all, he did own the place.

  Plus the Chinese he’d brought smelled really good.

  “You know most people call first before they come over.”

  “That would have given you a chance to say no,” he replied. “Have you got water running?” He placed the bag on the table in the small dining area.

  “Oh shit, the bathtub,” she said, moving into the bathroom as quick as she could.

  Luckily, the tub was quite deep and was only three quarters full by the t
ime she turned off the water.

  She turned to find Hunter standing only a foot away.

  “Crap! Do you have to sneak up on me?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Just checking you hadn’t flooded the place.”

  “Don’t worry, I promise not to wreck the apartment while I’m here.”

  “Come and eat. Food’s getting cold.”

  She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at his back. Barely. They sat down together at the table, eating silently.

  Cady stood up with a groan to clear the table.

  “What’s wrong?” Hunter asked, standing. He frowned as he looked her over.

  “Nothing.”

  “You don’t moan like that about nothing.” He moved around to her side. “What is it? Did someone hurt you?”

  “Yes, Jaron.”

  “What?” Thunder filled his face and he looked ready to kill. “He’s dead.”

  She was an idiot. She grabbed his arm as he went to storm past her. “Hunter, I was joking.”

  He stared down at her in disbelief.

  “Jaron didn’t hurt me, well, nothing that I didn’t ask for. We were training today and I’m just a bit sore, all right?”

  He relaxed under her hand.

  “Well, why didn’t you say so?”

  “Because it’s embarrassing. I didn’t realize I was so out of shape.”

  Hunter helped her clean up the empty containers.

  “Jaron is pushing you too hard. I’ll have a word with him.”

  “Oh no, you won’t.” She turned to him, prodding at his chest with her finger. “You will stay out of it. This is nothing to do with you.”

  “I’m your boss,” he told her.

  “And I need training to do the job you pay me for, which is exactly what Jaron is doing.”

  Hunter fell silent and instead of answering he moved over into the living room. Too late, she remembered the blanket and pillow on the couch. Crap.

  He turned to look at her. “You’re sleeping on the sofa? Is something wrong with the bed?”

  “No, the bed is fine. I just prefer to sleep out here.”

  “Why?”

  Because the bed felt too big, too lonely.

  “It’s none of your business.”

  Hunter stared at her for a long moment as though trying to read her before he took a seat on one of the armchairs.

  “You know, I actually have some things to do,” she told him with exasperation.

  “Like what?” he asked.

  “Well, I was about to take a bath when you arrived.” What was he doing here?

  “I’m not stopping you.”

  “Hunter! You’re not sitting out here while I take a bath.”

  He sighed. “All right, but I don’t see what the problem is.” He made his way over to the door. “Be ready at nine tomorrow morning,” he told her as he opened the door.

  “What? Why?”

  “We’re going to look at apartments.”

  “Oh, I suppose you need this place.”

  He nodded. “We like to keep it free in case any clients need a safe place to hide.”

  Shit. She’d only had two pay checks and while she hadn’t spent much, she didn’t have nearly enough for a security deposit on an apartment.

  “Okay, I’ll be out by the morning.”

  Hunter frowned. “That wasn’t what I said. I said be ready to go looking tomorrow, you don’t have to leave immediately, we have time to look around.”

  “I can find my own place.”

  “You’ve only been here a few weeks. I don’t want you ending up in some bad neighborhood.”

  She sighed. “You’re my boss at work, not in my private life, Hunter.”

  He just stared at her for a long moment. “Be ready at nine. And Cady, you better be here or I will not be pleased.”

  ***

  She’d been tempted to leave before he’d arrived. If she didn’t work for him, she might have. But she actually wanted to keep this job and she wasn’t ready to blow it yet, even if had to put up with Hunter and his dictates.

  Not that she intended to let him push her around, but it didn’t hurt her to go look at a few apartments for the day. Wasn’t like she had any intention of taking any.

  “What was wrong with that one?” Hunter asked with frustration.

  She hid a smile. She doubted he’d be turning up next weekend, demanding that she let him show her around.

  “It was too big.”

  “Too big? You’re kidding me. It was tiny and it was the last one on my list.”

  “These aren’t the only apartments available in Dallas, Hunter.”

  “No, but they’re the only ones in areas I’m willing to let you live in.”

  She spun towards him.

  “Listen here, let’s get one thing straight. You don’t get to dictate where I live.”

  He folded his arms over his chest, glaring down at her, but she refused to be intimidated.

  She grabbed the apartment listings off him. “Now, I want to go and see these two.” They were actually in her price range, once she’d saved up a bit more for the security deposit.

  His eyes widened. “No fucking way. Those neighborhoods aren’t safe.”

  “I want to see them.”

  “Fine. But these places will be dumps, just you see.”

  ***

  Hunter looked around the rundown apartment. God, this place was even worse than he’d thought. There were holes in the walls, the carpet had so many stains it was hard to make out its original color and there was a really suspicious smell that he couldn’t quite figure out.

  “This one’s not so bad,” Cady said, looking around.

  “No way.” Over his dead body would she live here. They’d passed two junkies in the hallway and he was damn sure it would only take one kick and the front door would splinter into toothpicks.

  She sent him a look filled with exasperation. “It’s not that bad.”

  “Not that bad? I wouldn’t let a dog live here.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a drama queen.”

  He sent her a quelling look. Any of the subs he knew would immediately have begged his forgiveness. Cady just shook her head.

  “I like it. I think I might take it. The price is right and there is a bus stop on the corner.”

  “I forbid you.”

  She placed her hands on her hips. “Forbid me? Seriously? You know it really is better to let someone think you’re an idiot than open your mouth and prove it.”

  He glowered at her. “You’re taking the other apartment we just saw.”

  “No. I’m not. I’m taking this place. It’s my money. I’ll spend it how I see fit.”

  Fuck, he was an idiot. He realized he hadn’t even explained things correctly before they’d gone looking at apartments.

  “Black-Gray is paying for the security deposit, so you don’t have to worry about money. I’ll call the agent and tell them we’re taking the other apartment.”

  She growled at him. She actually growled at him. She moved up into his space, her eyes filled with anger.

  “Oh no, you will not. You are not putting up the money for the security deposit and you are not dictating where I live, got it?”

  He was so spanking her ass for this. He took two steps toward her. Her eyes widened but she stood her ground. If there had been any fear on her face he would have backed off, but she merely held a wary regard for him.

  “You take this apartment, brat, and I will spank your ass until it glows. Then I’ll show up each night to sleep on your doorstep just to make sure you’re safe, understood?”

  She stared at him for a long moment, obviously trying to gauge how serious he was. He kept his gaze stern.

  “Okay, well, shall we keep looking then?”

  ***

  Cady sat back in her office chair with a sigh. She was going insane with boredom. She’d been here for nearly two months and she’d yet to do little more than some fil
ing and answering the phone.

  She’d finally found an apartment that both she and Hunter could agree on. She had no idea what was going on with him. He pretty much ignored her all week at work, but most weekends he’d turn up with takeout to share. He had insisted on installing a security system and deadbolts in her new apartment.

  She should have turned him away and she would have if he had even made a move on her. But he hadn’t made one move toward her that could be considered in the least bit sexual.

  Surprisingly, she found she enjoyed his company. He didn’t talk a lot and he tended to get a bit demanding when he thought he was right, but most of the time they got along well.

  As friends.

  She couldn’t help but feel disappointed. It was ridiculous. She been horrified when she thought he’d offered her the job for sex, but now that he was just treating her like one of the guys, she couldn’t help remembering his scent, the feel of him touching her, kissing her.

  She was going insane.

  Hunter was going mad. He couldn’t keep going this way.

  This friendship thing was hard work. This was a test of his control. Sure, he enjoyed spending time with her. But he’d enjoy it even more with her naked beneath him or on top of him. He’d imagined taking her everywhere in every possible place.

  Spending time with her had a dual purpose, one, he enjoyed being around her and wanted to know her better and two, it allowed him to keep an eye on her. He felt responsible for her. He’d brought her here and he was determined to make sure she was safe.

  Gray walked into his office and handed him a coffee.

  “Thanks.”

  “No worries.” Gray sat down and looked at him for a long moment.

  “What?” Hunter growled. “Have I suddenly grown another head?”

  Gray grimaced. “Christ, don’t give me nightmares. It’s Cady.”

  Hunter felt a surge of panic. “What is it? Is she all right?”

  “She’s fine. Why wouldn’t she be? She never leaves the office.”

  Hunter frowned. “What’s your point?”

  “My point is that I’m starting to wonder why we hired her. She’s got good instincts. Her skill with a gun tells me she’s no stranger to firearms. Technically, she’s fine, better than fine, really. She gets on okay with the rest of the team, but at the same time she holds part of herself back. Each time they try to reach out to her, she closes off. How are we supposed to use someone who can’t work as part of a team? Not to mention you seem determined to keep her from leaving the office.”