His features relaxed instantly, lips turning up into a smile. "But youfound me.""That I did."He tugged me gently into his lap, arranging me so that I wasn’t puttingany weight on the side of me with the hurt rib, while being sure not todisturb the wound on my thigh.He nuzzled his face into my neck, simultaneously slipping his handinside my robe to gently cup my breast, an intimate caress more than asexually charged one. As he kissed along my collarbone, his thumb grazedalong my nipple until it stood up, pert and proud."What are you doing out here?" I asked, my voice vibrating on the edgeof a moan."Dreaming," he said, continuing his kisses up my nape and to my jaw."This is not dreaming, Mr. Pierce. I assure you this is very real."His mouth moved up to hover above mine, then he lifted his eyes tomeet my gaze. He studied me for a moment, then chuckled to himselfbefore leaning back into the chair."What?" I played my fingers through the back of his hair."Do you remember th
I sat up excitedly, ignoring the protest of my side. If Brett really marriedone of Gwen's kids, it would tie our families together in even more waysthan we already were. I loved the idea."Which one was it?""Is there a difference? I don't know. One of them."I shook my head. "You are terrible.""I should've known his name. He was working at Pierce Industries. Hekept trying to pitch me new ideas during the boring parts of the ceremony.Some of them were actually good.""Man, wouldn’t that be amazing? Brett marrying Gwen’s son, and thetwo of them taking over your business when you retire. All of it, really.Sounds like an amazeballs future.""I hope it’s our future. But whatever future I have with you will beperfect. The only required ingredient is that you’re in it with me.”I tucked my head under his chin, and thought about what he’d said,holding his dream with him. His dream hadn’t included anything like, “Andyou didn’t have a breakdown after your next baby.” He didn’t even s
FIXED ON YOUCHAPTER ONEI FELT ALIVE.The alternating flashes of dark and soft lights, the throbbing pulse froman Ellie Goulding club mix, the movement of sweaty bodies dancing,grinding, enjoying each other—The Sky Launch Nightclub got into myblood and turned me on in a way that I hadn’t let anyone or anything else doin quite some time. When I was there—working the bar, assisting the waitstaff, attending to the DJs—I felt more free than at any other time of myday. The club held magic.And, for me, healing.For all its vibrancy and life, the club was a safe haven for me. It was aplace I could attach myself without worry of going overboard. No one wasgoing to sue me for focusing too hard or long on my job. But rumor wasThe Sky Launch, which had been up for sale for quite some time, was aboutto be sold. A new owner could change everything.“Laynie.” Sasha, the waitress working the upper floor, pulled me frommy thoughts and back to my job. “I need a vodka tonic, a White Russia
.After the numerous heartaches that had dotted my past, I’d discoveredthat I could divide the men I was attracted to into two categories. The firstcategory could be described as fuck and forget. These were the men that gotme going in the bedroom, but were easy to leave behind if necessary. It wasthe only group I bothered with anymore. They were the safe ones. Davidfell into this category.Then there were the men that were anything but safe. They weren’t fuckand forget—they were, “Oh, fuck!” They drew me to them so intensely thatI became consumed by them, absolutely focused on everything they did,said and were. I ran from these men, far and fast.Two seconds after locking eyes with this man, I knew I should berunning.He seemed familiar—he must have been in the club before. But if hehad been, I couldn’t imagine that I’d have forgotten. He was the mostbreathtaking man on the planet—his chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw satbeneath perfectly floppy brown hair and the most in
But I loved bartending. More, I loved the club. I’d only started mygraduate work because I needed more to do. Something to keep me“occupied” was what Brian had said when he offered to pay for myexpenses beyond what my scholarship and financial aid covered.It was a good decision—the right decision since it essentially stoppedmy life from spiraling out of control. For the past three years I’d thrown mylife into school and the nightclub. Problem was that graduation took most ofmy preoccupation away. And now bogged down with student loans, I had tofigure out how to make ends meet without having to leave The Sky Launch.But I had a plan. I wanted a promotion. I’d been helping withsupervisory duties for the last year, but had been unable to get an officialtitle since managers had to work full-time. Now that school was over, I wasavailable for more hours. David had been grooming me for the position.The only wrinkle in my trajectory could be a new owner. But I wasn’t goingto worr
“And did he expect you to blow him after your shift?”“No. I thought that was what he was about, but…” What had hewanted? He’d seemed so into me, or had I imagined that, swayed by myown intense desire for him? “I don’t know. He left without trying anything.”I’d meant to scare him off, but that hadn’t seemed to be the reason he left.“It was…odd.”“Midnight masturbation material?”“I’ll never tell.”“Your face says it all.”Over the past week, he had entered my thoughts, wearing decidedly lessthan he had when I’d seen him at the bar. And while sexual fantasies wereinnocent enough for most people, thinking too much about any guy wasnever good for me and Liesl knew it. But I didn’t need her lecture. As longas I didn’t see him again—and chances were slim that I would—I’d be fine.I moved to straightening things on the counter that didn’t need to bestraightened and changed the subject. “So the new owner…you’ve methim? What’s he like?”Liesl shrugged. “He’s all right. Younger than
Pieces began to fit together. That was how he’d known my name. He’dprobably come that night to check out his would-be staff. But that didn’texplain his possessive staring. Maybe he was the type to think of women asobjects. Maybe he took the definition of owner to a whole other level. Thethought made my skin pebble in goose bumps.And underneath that, panic crept into my gut.I could not be this twisted up over my boss, the head honcho, the guywho would determine my fate at the club. Freaking out over him would endin serious consequences.I placed a hand loosely over my belly, encouraging a deepdiaphragmatic breath to calm my growing anxiety.Hudson tilted his head and studied me. “I’ve heard many things aboutyou. And witnessed your work.” He paused, moving his gaze up and downmy body once more, scorching my skin as he did. “But none of what I heardor saw prepared me to find you wearing this ensemble.”The color drained from my face. I wasn’t sure where he was going withhis
I glanced down at the black slinky pants that were so tight they gave mecamel toe. They made me feel sexy, and for some reason that made methink of Hudson’s dark expression when he’d first laid eyes on me. Theexpression I’d since convinced myself was imagined.“Great. Now you’re telling me I have to throw these out too?”“Well, just don’t wear them while you’re working.” He stood so hecould reach the printer on the corner of the desk behind me. “For therecord,” he said as his arm brushed my waist. “I don’t disapprove of thisoutfit in the slightest.”I, on the other hand, wanted to burn the whole ensemble. It had causedme nothing but trouble all night—drunk patrons thinking they could touchme and say things to me that they otherwise wouldn’t.But I’d worn it for David—for the moment when we’d be alone. Thiswas it.I put on a fake pout. “Too bad your opinion isn’t the one that matters.”David leaned in close. “My opinion doesn’t matter?”“Actually,” I said, grabbing his jacket