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Fixed Series 10
As he often did, he answered my unasked question. “I own the bank thatholds your loans. I looked them up today. It would be very easy for me tohave them written off. No actual money would exchange hands, if thatmakes you feel better.”“That’s an awfully generous payment.” Too generous. And just like Ijumped to buy a lottery ticket whenever the pot got particularly high, Iwanted to jump on his offer. But nothing that paid that well ended in good.“It’s worth it to me to see this project succeed, Alayna.”My answer was no. I’d already decided. It had to be no. There was toomuch risk at entering into an arrangement—any arrangement—with him.But I couldn’t help but want to know more of the details. “What exactlywould you want me to do?”“Pretend we’re a couple. I’d invite you to several gatherings where mymother would see us together. I’d expect you to hang on my arm andbehave as though we’re madly in love.”“And that’s all?” I couldn’t imagine it would be that hard to pretend to
Fixed Series 11
CHAPTER FIVEI WOKE up right before noon the next morning when I heard my phonebuzz an incoming text. It was plugged in on the nightstand next to me, but Iwasn’t ready to wake up, having gotten to bed after six.Lying with my eyes closed, I grinned into my pillow and recalled theevents of the night before. The things Hudson had said to me, the way he’dkissed me, touched me—my heart sped up at the memory. Had all of thatreally happened? My obsessive relationship disorder made it really easy forme to imagine that things happened between me and others that actuallyhadn’t. It had been several years since I had fallen into those old habits.Now, was I doing it again?No, I wasn’t making it up. I couldn’t make up a kiss like that. It hadhappened. And I had wanted more to happen. But in the morning withdistance and fresh eyes, I could see so much better how it shouldn’t happen.As much as I wanted him, I was already thinking about him way more thanwas healthy.I went through the st
Fixed Series 12
I took a long swallow of my water, contemplating how to react to hissudden statement. Old connotations of the word “enable” stung me. Was heinsinuating that I wasn’t well? And how was I not responsible for myself? Iwas living and working in the Big Apple—if that didn’t take responsibility,I didn’t know what did.Ever impatient, Brian didn’t wait for me to choose my response. “I can’tlet you throw your life away at a nightclub. You are too vulnerable to workin that type of establishment.”The Sky Launch. Brian had never liked me working there, not from dayone. But he’d accepted it because I’d kept out of trouble. Had he nowforgotten? “I haven’t had any issues since I’ve worked there.”“You had school to keep you occupied. You need something morechallenging to focus on.”Never mind that I’d worried about the exact same thing myself, I waspissed. “Brian, I know how to handle my triggers. And what do you knowabout it? You never went to any support meetings.”His voice rose unco
Fixed Series 13
CHAPTER SIXTWO HOURS TURNED out to be barely enough time to prepare forseeing Hudson. I spent a long time in the shower, shaving my legs andunderarms and cleaning up my Brazilian, chastising myself as I did sincethere was no way Hudson was going to see my lady parts.Then I stood in front of my closet for what felt like hours. I’d be goingstraight from Hudson’s office to the club to meet with David then a full shiftof bartending after that. I needed the perfect blend of smart and sexy with adash of fuck-me-please—for work, of course. Finally I settled on a beltedteal and black shirt dress. It was shorter than I would have liked for thebusiness part of my plans, but still longer than most of the dresses I wore atthe club. I pulled my hair into a low ponytail and kept my makeup tomascara and lip gloss. I looked good—fresh and natural.Having been too distracted to ask Hudson where Pierce Industries waslocated, I had to Google it. Turned out the offices were near the OneWorl
Fixed Series 14
“And Alayna, wipe that look off your face. Jordan’s gay. I wouldn’thave hired him for you otherwise.”I folded my arms over my chest, embarrassed and chided. Also, Idecidedly did not like Hudson. Beyond the sexual appeal, anyway.“Anything else?” I couldn’t look at him.He leaned back to sit on the front edge of his desk, his body closeenough to touch without much movement on my part. “My mother ishosting a charity fashion show on Sunday. That will be our first outing as acouple.”“Okay.” I crossed my leg over the other, his close proximity making mefidgety. And while I was so affected by him, I realized he’d been nothingbut business since I’d arrived. Had his move on me the night before been away to insure I’d accept his proposition? If so, he was a total ass.“Your loans will be written off as of nine a.m. Monday morning. Awritten confirmation will be sent to you.”“Don’t you want to wait and see if we pull this whole thing off first?” Ihadn’t meant to come off snotty. Wel
Fixed Series 15
I looked around the loft again, realization setting in. “Hudson! Is thisyour fuck pad?”“Sometimes.” He poured tea into our glasses and then turned to handme one across the counter.I took the glass from him, sipping eagerly, needing the moisture for mysuddenly dry mouth. “And you brought me here because...?”He took a swallow of his tea, and licked his lips. He raised a brow.“Why do you think I brought you here?”A sudden thrill set in followed by a wave of panic. I wasn’t ready forthis, was I? I looked at my watch. There was no time. “Um, I have to leavefor work in ten minutes.”“Twenty minutes. You have a driver.”I shifted, the inside of my legs feeling sticky and moist. “That’s still nota whole lot of time.”Hudson came around the counter, took my tea from my hand and set itdown with his. “Not a whole lot of time for what?”My throat felt like it had closed, but somehow I managed weak words.“Are you going to make me say it?”He grinned as he swiveled me around, then cage
Fixed Series 16
“Privacy, Alayna. I can’t imagine you would want to experience that atthe club, would you?” The doors opened and he ushered me into theelevator. “Do you regret coming?” The smile in his tone emphasized thedouble meaning in his words.“No,” I answered quickly as he pushed the L button. “I regret you notcoming.” I couldn’t think of a time when a man had let me take all thepleasure without receiving any of his own. It made me feel even morevulnerable in front of him.“You’ll have opportunities to rectify that.”And then thoughts of rectifying that raced through my mind, touchingHudson’s naked body, his shaft in my hands…My sex felt swollen and needy. Again.Damn. Not what I needed at the moment. I had to get my head in thegame. Which would be easier without the object of my desire standing nextto me, his arm brushing at my shoulder. “Just after all your talk about notbeing my boss and all that, I didn’t think you’d show.”“David may want advice. I should be there.” He peered d
Fixed Series 17
His playful mood made me braver than I had been with him. “So whenare we going to remedy all the seeing of naked bits?”Hudson rubbed his thumb along my cheek. “Ah, now she’s eager. Aftershe’s sampled the goods.”“I was always eager. Now I’m sure.” I turned my mouth to nibble on histhumb and he raised a brow.“What time do you work tomorrow?”“Nine.”His eyes widened as my nibbles turned to sucking. “I’ll make sure I’mdone with work by five,” he said hoarsely. “Come by the loft then. Take themain elevator to the penthouse. You’ll have to enter the code: Seven-threetwo-three. Repeat it for me.”“Seven-three-two-three.”“Good. I’ll text it to you so you don’t forget. Five o’clock. Don’t eat.I’ll feed you.” He pulled his thumb from my mouth and gave me a swiftkiss. “And I’ll feed on you.” He returned again for a deeper kiss.He sighed when he pushed away from me. “Tomorrow, precious.” Hegrabbed my hand and held it as long as he could while he walked away.Before he disappeared ou
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