Addiction (The Hunted Series Book 2)

by Ivy Smoak

  "Is your headquarters still there?"

  "It is."

  "Your company must do really well."

  "It's not my company anymore. But yes, it does." He smiled at me.

  "And what about after work?"

  He unfolded his arms from around me and walked over to the bed. I hadn't noticed it before, but there was a white box on the bed with a red ribbon around it. "It would depend on my mood. Sometimes I'd grab drinks with some of the guys I worked with. Or I'd have dinner back at my place."

  "Do you still have an apartment here?"

  "No. Not anymore."

  I could have asked him if he sold it. Or if Isabella lived there alone now. But I didn't want to. I was going to focus on us. Nothing else mattered. "What did you do after dinner?"

  "It would depend on my mood." He lifted up the box. "Tonight it's your decision." He walked over to me and handed me the box.

  "What are the options?"

  "Open it."

  I pulled the red ribbon free and lifted off the top. I picked up the red, silky dress and let the box fall to the ground. The dress was adorned with a sheer red material with small flowers embroidered in it. It was probably the most expensive piece of clothing I had ever touched. "It's beautiful."

  "So, I have tickets to an art gallery opening on the Upper East Side. And you can wear that. We can go shopping for whatever else you want. I already have reservations at Eleven Madison Park."

  "What is Eleven Madison Park?"

  There was a twinkle in his eye from my question. "It's one of the most prestigious restaurants in the city. I want to treat you to a night as one of New York's elite."

  "New York's elite?" I laughed.

  He smiled at me. "Or you can wear exactly what you're wearing. And we can go to a comedy club that I love in East Village. We can walk through Central Park and we can eat at the Tavern on the Green before the show."

  I folded the dress and put it back in the box. "I think I'd like to go to the comedy club."

  He grabbed my waist and pulled me against him. "God I love you."

  I laughed as I looked up at him. "Was that a quiz, Professor Hunter?"

  "No. I would have been happy doing either thing. I've just never met anyone who'd choose option two." His eyes were suddenly smoldering. He could so easily take my breath away.

  "And you're happy that I did?"

  "Yes." His hands slid to my ass. "Besides, now we have more time for other things."

  "You do realize that we came to a hotel with no luggage? And we're probably not staying the night."

  His skilled fingers unbuttoned and unzipped my pants. He kissed the side of my neck. "Your point is?"

  Do I have one? I tried not to focus on his hands. "The people at the front desk probably think we're having an affair."

  He let go of my waist and sat down on the edge of the bed. He quickly hooked his index fingers in the belt loops of my jeans and pulled my waist toward him. He pushed my sweater up a few inches and kissed my stomach. "Well, if they already think so..." His breath was warm against my skin. I had the familiar pull deep down in my stomach.

  He raised his left eyebrow, giving me that challenging look. I wasn't sure what he wanted me to do. He continued to stare at me as he pulled off his shirt. Does he want me to strip for him? I slowly pulled my sweater off. He continued to look at me without saying a word. I suddenly felt extremely shy. I slowly pushed my jeans down over my hips and let them fall down my legs. His Adam's apple rose and fell as he regarded me. Him watching me made me feel so sexy. I moved my hands to the back of my bra and unhinged it. I let it slowly fall down my arms onto the floor. My skin tingled from his gaze. I hooked my fingers under the lace of my thong. He leaned forward and pulled it down himself. His hands glided over my ass and down the back of my thighs.

  I laughed as he pulled me down on top of him.

  He kissed the base of my neck and rolled over on top of me. "Besides, I promised you an orgasm." He got off the bed and knelt beside it. "I'm a man of my word." He wound his hands around my knees and pulled my ass to the end of the bed.

  My breathing accelerated. I wanted him. I always wanted him.

  He spread my thighs wide and kissed the inside of my knee.

  "Insatiable," he whispered against my thigh.

  He was right. I'd never get enough of him. I propped myself up on my elbows. It was sexy watching him. He liked teasing me. He liked pleasing me more. "You're insatiable too," I panted.

  "Hmm." His breath was hot between my thighs. "Is that so?" His tongue made one long, slow stroke against my wetness. I collapsed back down on the bed.

  His hands left me for a second and I heard the zip of his jeans. He kissed my thigh again and then pulled me off the bed and onto his waiting erection.

  I gasped from surprise. "Oh God." I tilted my head back as I let the sensation of him inside of me take over. He grabbed my hair and tilted my head the rest of the way back, leaving a trail of kisses down my neck. His hands found my hips and he moved them up and down, guiding me along his length.

  I groaned.

  He leaned into me and bit my lip, pulling me back up toward him. His hands squeezed my ass as he stood up. I quickly clasped my hands behind his neck and wrapped my legs around him.

  "I want all of New York to know you're mine," he growled.

  I didn't know what he was talking about. All I knew was how good he felt, possessing me. He pushed my back against the cool glass of the window.

  My body shivered. People would be able to see us. "James..."

  He thrust deep inside of me.

  "James," I moaned, completely abandoning my hesitation.

  He grabbed my hands and unwound them from his neck. He pushed them against the glass and held them firmly as he began to slide his cock in and out of me again.

  I needed to touch him. All I wanted was to run my hands through his hair. I tried to move my hand.

  He spread my arms farther apart and pushed the back of my hands more firmly against the glass. I couldn't move at all. He tilted his hips.

  I moaned. The glass squeaked as my back slid against it.

  He kissed me hard, silencing me. I wrapped my legs tighter around him as his tongue invaded my mouth. Fuck this is hot.

  With each thrust of his hips the intensity grew. I couldn't move at all. He was in complete control of my body. And I loved when he was in control of my body. He knew what I liked better than I did. I clenched myself around him.

  "Come for me, Penny." He kissed me again and groaned into my mouth as he found his release. The coolness of the glass and the warmth of him filling me was all I could take. I shattered around him. He released his grip on my hands. I immediately ran them down his muscular arms.

  "You're so sexy," I said.

  He laughed and collapsed to his knees, pulling me down with him. He held me against his chest and sighed into my hair.

  Chapter 17

  Monday

  "Is he a good friend of yours?"

  "Who? Mason Caldwell?"

  "Mhm." We had just been seated at the Tavern on the Green. It was a beautiful fall day and we had opted to eat outside. Small lanterns hung in the tree above us. It was beautiful and romantic and perfect. The whole day had been perfect.

  "We used to be really good friends." Professor Hunter shrugged. "We fell out of touch after school. Our parents are still close. And the ad agency he works for has helped me out before."

  "He seems nice. I've never met any of your friends."

  "You find out who your true friends are when things aren't easy anymore. Turns out I didn't have many."

  "He didn't even know about your divorce. From my experience, you don't open up very easily. Maybe you're being too hard on your friends."

  Professor Hunter smiled at me. "You're probably right."

  I looked out toward Central Park. It really was pretty. "Do you eventually want to move back here?"

  He rubbed my palm with his thumb. "Not if you don't l
ike it."

  I looked back at him. "I like it when I'm with you."

  He eyed me curiously. "We can go wherever you want, you know. It doesn't matter to me. Wherever you'll be happy."

  "After I graduate?"

  "Yes."

  "You talk so easily about our future," I said.

  "That's because I already know that you're in my future."

  "But there's still..."

  "I will never run away from this feeling. I'm not letting you go."

  I stared at him. "How many children do you want?"

  He frowned. "What?"

  "You want to talk about our future. So let's talk about it."

  "I'm not sure I'd be a very good father."

  "Why would you say that?"

  "I'm..." he stopped and looked up at the waitress who had just approached our table.

  "Welcome to the Tavern on the Green. I'm Lexi and I'll be your waitress this evening. Can I get you both something to drink?"

  Professor Hunter looked down at the wine list and then back up at Lexi. "We're actually ready to order. We'll both have the cioppino. And could we just have two glasses of apple juice?"

  She looked a little surprised. "Sure. I'll be right back."

  I smiled at him. "Apple juice? You can have a drink if you want."

  "I don't want one." He sighed and let go of my hand.

  "We don't have to talk about kids. I'm sorry, that was such like a weird thing for me to bring up. We only just started dating. I just..."

  "No. It's fine. I've just never thought much about it."

  "That's okay."

  "Do you want kids?"

  "One day. I'd want at least two. I always wished I had a sibling growing up."

  "Hmm." He sighed. "Two sounds good then."

  I smiled at him. He was acting weird. It still felt like he was holding back something from me. "So is that why you think you'll be a bad father? Just because you don't want kids anytime soon?"

  "No, that's not it." He grabbed my hand again. "I just haven't spent much time around children."

  "I don't want them anytime soon."

  "Good. I want you all to myself for as long as possible."

  "So what exactly is cioppino?"

  He laughed. "Trust me, you'll like it."

  ***

  As we walked out of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater I was still laughing. "That's so cool that Amy Poehler used to do improv here."

  He smiled at me. "So you liked your choice?"

  "Yes. Today was perfect." I looked up at the sky. The stars were dull in the night sky. The city was too bright. "It's weird not being able to see the stars."

  "Pros and cons."

  We walked slowly back toward the hotel. It was nice walking through the street holding hands like a normal couple. We'd never be able to do this on Main Street. Maybe he was right. Disclosing our relationship would be for the best. I heard music playing in the distance.

  A smile spread across Professor Hunter's face. "Come with me." We jogged into Central Park until we came to a guitarist. He was strumming his guitar and singing. I laughed as Professor Hunter twirled me and then pulled me in close.

  His hand was on the small of my back. It reminded me of when he had walked me home in the rain. The smell of him and the look in his eyes took my breath away.

  "Do you know this song?" My voice sounded airy. I wanted to know what it was so I could find it on YouTube and remember this moment forever.

  "I believe it's called hands down." He twirled me again and placed both of his hands on my waist.

  "Every day I spend with you I fall harder and harder." I looked up into his eyes.

  He leaned down and kissed me. When the song ended he didn't pull away. We kept swaying to the loud sounds of the city. "I should get you home."

  "Does that mean going home with you? Or are you sending me back to my dorm?"

  He laughed. "I'd like to bring you home with me."

  "I don't want tonight to end." I put my hands in his hair and brought his lips back down to mine.

  There was a quiet groan in his throat as he pulled away. "I love you, Penny."

  "I love you, James."

  ***

  I rolled over and looked at him. He looked so relaxed. This was real. I wasn't dreaming. I would do anything for this man. I liked being in his apartment. I liked that the sheets smelled like him. And I liked waking up next to him. I suddenly had an urge to make him breakfast in bed. I looked at his alarm clock. It was only 7 o'clock. There was time. I quietly climbed out of bed and went into the kitchen, closing the door behind me.

  Someone cleared their throat.

  I turned my head and saw someone sitting at the dining room table. I almost screamed, but then I saw who it was. She was tall and thin, and had perfectly straight brunette hair. She was just as gorgeous as the pictures I had seen of her. Isabella.

  "How did you get in here?" I didn't mean to whisper, but my voice came out small. I didn't know anything about her. Was she violent? Would she suddenly be because she had found me here instead of her husband? I was sleeping with her husband. Fuck, I'm sleeping with her husband.

  "I'm his wife."

  That didn't really answer my question. Had he given her a key? Did she just tell the front desk and they let her up? I was wearing one of Professor Hunter's t-shirts. I pulled the fabric down. This was the feeling I wanted to avoid. This was why we should have waited. "I..."

  "Don't embarrass yourself. I know all about you, Penny. I like to keep track of who my husband is currently screwing."

  I felt goose bumps rise on my skin. Had Professor Hunter talked to her about me? I looked over at the door. Please get up.

  She pulled a manila envelope out of her purse and set it on the table. "Don't flatter yourself. James definitely didn't mention you the last time I saw him. He was occupied by other, more pressing matters."

  I glared at her. The last time they had seen each other they had sex. What the hell is she doing here?

  "Oh, did he not tell you? You were together at the time, weren't you? It was only a week ago." She put her elbows on the table. "I know exactly how he works. I know exactly what he wants. And clearly you can't give him what he needs. If you could satisfy him, he wouldn't have come crawling back to me."

  I swallowed hard. "He did tell me."

  "So let me guess," she said, ignoring my comment. "You've given him quite the chase. Or is the fact that you're a student enough?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "He only wants what he can't have. You must see that. As soon as you say you'll stay, he'll leave you."

  I thought about everything we'd been through. Him giving up on me after my lie. Right after I told him that I loved him. All of our fights. Even him having sex with Isabella had pushed me away again. Was he purposefully sabotaging our relationship? Giving me just enough to cling onto?

  "You do see it. I can see it in your eyes. You just realized that this..." she waved her hand around the apartment, "...is all a lie."

  Professor Hunter wouldn't lie to me again. I wasn't going to let her convince me to not believe in him. What we had was real. She was just jealous. "I don't think you know him as well as you think."

  She leaned forward and raised her eyebrow. "Is that what he told you?"

  "He didn't need to."

  "I've known him since we were kids. I know him better than you ever will. And if you'll excuse me, I need to talk to my husband in private." She stood up.

  "I think you should go." I was surprised by my own courage. He wouldn't want her here. I felt protective of him. I didn't want her to hurt him anymore. She was cold and manipulative and horrible.

  Isabella laughed. "Penny, I'm doing you a favor. Trust me, you don't want anything to do with him."

  "If he's as bad as you say, then why haven't you signed the papers?"

  She put her hand on top of the manila envelope. "I'm actually here to discuss that."

  Thank God.

  "Y
ou look relieved. You shouldn't be. I can tell that you're just as addicted to him as he is to you. That would be sweet in any other situation, but not in this one."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "He really hasn't told you?"

  "Told me what?"

  "I think you already know. You just don't want to believe it. Besides, James is bad at hiding his shortcomings."

  "We love each other. That's all that matters."

  "How old are you, Penny?"

  I shouldn't be answering her questions. She had already made her mind up about me. I stayed quiet.

  "Right. You're young. You don't know what love is. Have you ever even been in a serious relationship before? Can you even tell when someone is lying to you?"

  "He's not lying to me."

  "Withholding information is just as bad as lying. It's something that you should know. You did that to him, did you not?"

  How the hell does she know all this? I looked over at the bedroom door. He had to have talked to her about me. Did he do it that night? Right before they slept together? I needed to know. "If James didn't talk to you about me..."

  "He has his sources and I have mine," she said, cutting me off. "So how about you get to class. What I need to discuss with him is none of your business." Her words were icy. It felt like she had slapped me.

  "It is my business."

  Isabella sighed. "Remember that I tried to warn you. But fine, we'll do this your way. James!" she called. "James, get the hell up!"

  It only took a second for James to come to the door of his bedroom. He took one look at me, from head to toe. Was he looking to see if she had hurt me? Her words had been painful enough.

  He turned to Isabella. "How did you get in here?" I had never heard him sound so mad before. He definitely hadn't given her a key. He walked over to me and stood in front of me. Protecting me? Or hiding something?

  "Don't be so cold James. I'm your wife, after all."

  He ran his hand through his hair. "Get out of my apartment."

  She ignored him. "I see that you aren't being very discreet with your new girlfriend. She's a little young for you, don't you think?" She looked at me. "And really not your type at all."

  What is his type?