William looked around the around the office and glanced at his Rolex, his face pained. “Well, if you won’t talk to me now, then tell me, ‘When is a better time for you?’”
God. That look. “I’ll have my assistant call yours and set something up later in the week.”
William threw his head back and laughed a little too loud. “Oh, so it’s like that now?”
Addie rolled her eyes and put much needed space between them before she did something she’d regret. “We’re both busy, William.”
William stared into Addie’s eyes for a second longer than made her comfortable and then nodded. “I see. Look, Addison, if you want to play hard to get, fine. I’ll play all day long. But something tells me that’s not what this is. I know how to play dirty, and I’m well prepared to do so, if that’s what it takes. I didn’t get where I am today by playing nice. You should keep that in mind.”
William brushed by her, kissing her gently on the temple on his way out, closing the door a little harder than necessary. He didn’t glance back. Addie sank in to her chair, still warm from where he’d been. She gasped, trying to catch her breath. Both infuriated and thrilled by the effect that man had on her, she smiled just a little. God, she was so fucked.
True to his word, William Hartman played hardball and showed up on Addie’s schedule the following day. Her assistant pointed out that he’d requested a three-hour block of time, forcing her to cancel and rearrange her entire day. When Addie asked her why she’d done it and informed her never to do it again, the poor girl looked confused as though Addie had lost her mind. “It was William Hartman calling.”
Addie smiled wryly. “Mr. Hartman doesn’t get three hours of my day. Please call my two o’clock back and tell them we’re still on and then please let Mr. Hartman know that I had to cut our meeting short by an hour.”
The girl looked at her as though she’d grown two heads. “Will do.”
Addie met Carl at the SUV waiting just outside the lobby at eleven o’clock. When it took off in a different direction, Addie eyed Carl in the rearview mirror. He seemed to know what she was going to ask. “Mr. Hartman says to tell you you’re in for a change of scenery today, Mrs. Greyer.”
Addie frowned. Oh he did, did he?
They arrived at the W Hotel via a private entrance and entered a private elevator that delivered Addie to the penthouse suite where William was waiting dressed in his usual Armani suit.
Addie looked around the place and then finally at William. “What is this?”
“It’s the penthouse, baby.”
Addie walked over to him and stood inches from his face. “Yeah, I can see that. Why am I here?”
William ran his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, stopping at her wrists. Chills ran through her as he squeezed hard, cutting off the blood flow. “Like I said . . . I’m done playing nice. My guess is that you want to be treated like the others.”
Addie flung her wrists down fast, surprising William and causing him to release her. “The others?”
“Yeah, the women I bring here. To fuck.” William snapped, scowling.
Addie shot him a look that could kill. “Wow, William, you’re a fucking genius. And since you’ve got me all figured out, which way to the bed? Let’s go!”
William stepped towards her and pushed her back to the wall, his hard body subduing her, holding her in place. He ran his hands over her body, slipping his fingers underneath her dress. “Who needs a bed? “William glared.
The next twenty minutes contained the most intense sex of Addie’s life. William punished her in ways she hadn’t known possible, taking her to the edge and bringing her back, again and again. In turn, she clawed and bit, and scratched him until they were both exhausted, depleted.
William stood, walked away, came back with a glass of water, and shoved it in Addie’s direction. “Drink.”
Addie sat up and sipped the water. “That was . . . incredible.”
William lifted her wrist, inspecting the red marks. Frowning, he rubbed his fingers in circles over them, bringing them to his lips and gently kissing each one. “Oh yeah.” William smiled wryly. “So this is what it takes?”
Addie cocked her head to the side and rubbed her chin. Keep it light. “Yeah. Maybe.”
He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I’ve missed you, Addison.”
“I’m sorry, William. But I have a family and I’ve been busy. Things are crazy at work and the boys keep me on my toes all day long.”
William couldn’t help but notice the way her face lit up when she talked about her children.
“I want to meet them.” William said, lowering his voice, searching her eyes.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”