“I’m sure of it. My mother left my father for those reasons. He became different when he took over the company. I’m going to have to take over. And whoever I love will leave me too, because I’m an ugly beast, or worse … I’m a man who wants what he doesn’t deserve, will do everything to have it, then ruin it by dragging it into my life when I know the consequences.”
Shivering, I look at the time. We have a whole five minutes left. “If you look at someone like an object, yes. But people have their own motives, their own feelings, their own wants. Trying to read minds doesn’t do anyone any good. Maybe someone, just someone is more interested in the real Hunter underneath the mask.”
He shifts in his seat, then stands. His fingers nearly brush mine and I jump up, backing against my desk. “You promised. This is professional.”
“Give me your professional answer then, Valerie. If you had the chance to show someone you could love, all the ugly things about you and the vulnerable things, to get real with them, but you knew it could end badly … would it be selfish to try?”
“That depends on your intent.”
“How?” He takes another step for me and I can feel my skin sizzle under that gaze.
I choke down a ragged breath. “Do you really want to involve her? Take the chance to hurt her? Do youknowthat you’ll ruin her, or is that a guess? Are you willing – if she falls for you, if she gives in – to catch her and fight for her? Or do you just want a good time?”
He licks across his bottom lip. “I would take every possible punishment to keep her from getting hurt. And right now, I’m more worried that she doesn’t want to fall and that she definitely won’t do the catchingwhenI end up in love.”
My mouth opens and closes a few times.
“What’s your recommendation, Valerie? Do I shoot my shot and lay all the risk out? Show her everything I can offer, kink, banter, and the real stuff? Or do I cut my losses right here and now?”
I glance at the time. “Your session is done.”
“Then you can really answer me, can’t you?” He asks, stroking along the back of my arm. “The way you want to and not with your work voice.”
“Show her everything. Don’t spare the ugly stuff or the soft stuff. Be real … and she’d be willing to fall if things are right,” I say softly.
Hunter leans towards me I shake my head, shrinking back. The office is open. “I’m still on the clock and the front door is open. Professional. There are rules.”
He watches as I type some notes into my computer, clock out, then lock the front door. I slowly turn around and see him waiting there, leaning against the edge of the hallway. He arches an eyebrow.
I swallow hard as I approach him. “Now we can leave.”
“I’m impatient.” He growls, grabbing me and pushing me against the wall before wrapping his hand around my throat. His knee pushes between my thighs and he raises it so every time I squirm, the friction between my legs builds. He holds his lips just out of reach before kissing along my jaw and to my ear.
“I’m shooting my shot. Are you in the mood to play?” I can already feel him hard against my hip.
Shivering, I face him and my lips brush his as I speak. “Show me everything or there’s no way I’m begging.”
LIEF
“Lief.” Mr. Volkov walks around me. I glance at the time quickly, making note of how much longer our meetings have been recently. It’s only three in the afternoon. “I’d like to speak to you about my sons.”
My eyes steady on him. I don’t like the undercurrent in his voice. It promises violence. Where my best friends are concerned, I like to be clear. I spare them the details about what I do here. I spare them the details about my life. That is the only way our friendship works.
I can’t break the trust we’ve grown.
“Where is Hunter today?”
Mr. Volkov waves at the air. “At counseling or something. I’m trying to get him back on the same page and I’m sure talking out all those weaknesses and fantasies will remove the distraction.”
He’s wrong if he sent his son to counseling. I’m sure he’s with Valerie. And I’m sure they’re not doing any professional talking if Hunter is getting his way. He always gets his way.
“This meeting is for the two of us specifically.” Mr. Volkov sits and folds his hands together on the table. “I need you to watch out for my boys. You do an excellent job of keeping problems at bay with your … skills.”
My arm tightens in response.
“If only they know that each additional tattoo you get is a marker of more.” He chuckles. “But you must understand you serve me. I took you in. I have given you a comfortable life. Any friendship you have with them could distract you.”
Distraction is bad in this world. I’ve learned it quickly.