Hunting Lust (Orion the Hunter Part Three) (9 page)

“What’s the goal?”

I noticed that his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched – just for a second – before his impassive expression returned. 

“It doesn’t matter,” he said dismissively. 
Liar!
I knew from that slip of his mask that it did matter.  That goal was personal and was born of anger or revenge.  I decided to let it go for now but resolved to bring it up at another time.

“Okay.  So why aren’t you concentrating on pursuing your goal anymore?” 
Please don’t let it be because of his feelings towards me!

“It’s just not my number one priority now,” he said simply.  He looked into my eyes … I mean, right into them, like he was searching my soul.  I couldn’t look away from the intensity of them and the range of emotion that I saw there.  I saw sincerity, insecurity, longing, adoration and hope.  Then his eyes refocused on my face and he said, “You are.”

A strange sensation unfurled in my chest.  Not desire, well not sexual desire anyway.  It just seemed … right.  I smiled and whispered, “I know.”

He pulled me closer and held me.  No words, no movement … nothing.  I could feel him breathing into my hair and it was nice … comforting.

Then he broke the silence by saying, “Thank you for not kicking me out.  I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had.”

“The thought crossed my mind.”

He stiffened slightly.  “Well, why didn’t you?”

I hesitated. 
Why hadn’t I exactly?
“I wanted to know why you were behaving like that but I think I worked it out.”

He pulled back and studied my face.  “And what exactly do you think you’ve worked out?”

I looked down and concentrated on the stubble that was just visible on his jawline.  “I don’t know exactly why, but you lose it when I’m with another guy.”  There was no response so I continued.  “You almost lost it when you saw someone’s hand on my ass – although I was handling it fine by myself and, I hasten to add, I was not reciprocating his advances in any way.  Tonight, I can only assume that once you realized that it was me that Scott was carrying in here, you got all pissed about that and stormed in here, demanding to know what I was doing with him.  Tell me if I’ve gotten anything wrong.”

I could see the tension in his jaw as he considered his response.  “That guy was a total letch.  I saw his hand on your ass and I just saw red.  He had no right doing that.”

“And you have no right to react in that way.  I’m not your personal property, Lucas.  We’re not even in a committed relationship.  You mightn’t like it but if I’d decided to fuck his brains out in the elevator, it would be none of your business.”

There was major jaw clenching now and a vein in his neck was standing out.  “Oh yes it fucking well would be.  I’m fucking you … and I don’t share.”

That vein is pulsating now! 
“No, Lucas.  We didn’t agree to exclusivity.  But as it happens, I don’t want to fuck anyone else at the moment and if I did, I wouldn’t fuck him if he was the last man on earth.  Got it?”

Oh my god!  That vein is going to pop!
  “Whatever.  So what were you doing with Scott?  Why were you wrapped in a duvet, wearing only your underwear?  And why was he in here with you?”

I chewed my lip. 
Did I tell him the embarrassing truth?
I decided I’d better … so I did.  When I’d finished, he picked up my pajamas off the bed and began to laugh. 

I didn’t think it was remotely funny.  “Can you see how stupid you were?  What did you say to everyone out there before you barged in here?” 

“Nothing.  I saw him carry someone wrapped in a quilt into your room and Angel laughed and said you’d be with us once you’d gotten dressed.  And the thought of you, undressed … with him … you were wrapped in a quilt for fuck’s sake!”

“Well, yes … I can see how that might’ve looked.  But again … you’re not my keeper, Lucas Hunter.  If I wanted to roll around in my duvet, wearing just my underwear and being carried by hunky guys, it is my choice.  Not yours.  Is that clear?”

His face had clouded over again.  “Hunky guys?  You think Scott is a hunk?”

Oh, for god’s sake!
  “What if I do?  What if I think that all the guys are hunks?  If I’d wanted to fuck any of them, I would have done it by now.  Capisce?”

He frowned.  “So you haven’t fucked any of them?”

I sighed.  “No, Lucas.  I’ve not fucked any of them.  And I have no plans to.  Okay?”

He looked slightly mollified.  “Okay.  But I’ll tell you something - all of them would fuck you, given the chance.”

I laughed.  “Perhaps … well, except for Chad.  He only has eyes for Angel. If it has a pulse, Travis won’t say no.  Ethan is a man whore.  And Scott …”

“What?  And Scott … what?” His black eyes narrowed with suspicion.

I sighed.  “Well, I just don’t think of him like that.”  Memories of Angel telling me about Scott taking me to the toilet made me cringe.  “No, definitely no sexual chemistry there.”

“Okay.  So are we good?” he asked, hopefully with one eyebrow raised.

I gave him an ‘are you serious’ look.  “No, Lucas.  This is fucked up. This is why I don’t do the whole relationship thing.  I can’t spend the next month avoiding every man on the planet.  Or worrying that you might turn into the Hulk because some stud has a piss in your territory.”

He looked offended.  “Nice analogy.”

I grinned.  “I thought so.  Seriously Lucas, I don’t know where I am with you.  Take today.  We wake up together yet things are platonic.  You refuse to fuck me in your gym.  You send me flowers and a thoughtful text.  Then a bossy text.  Then you come storming down the corridor because a guy is flirting with me.  Then you’re all business like until Jenson suggests meeting with me and you turn into a jealous teenager type.  Then we disagree over what to do for lunch.  You concede but sulk. 

“We have a lovely relaxed lunch and then you suddenly crush a wineglass in your hand and become the image of internalised rage.  And that time there was nobody in sight.  The waiter didn’t so much as look at me.  Then you’re hot and horny as hell in the elevator.  Then you’re considerate and thoughtful, going shopping for me and generously buying me beautiful lingerie.  Then you turn into Lucas the Dominant and have me on my knees, giving you a blowjob.  Then you drive me home and I discover your generous, thoughtful gift of the wine.  And then back to ballistic Lucas and now reasonable Lucas.   The chorus of Katy Perry’s Hot ‘n Cold could have been written about you, you know.”

He laughed.  “I feel exhausted – like I’ve had a tough day.  And that’s not because I spent half the night just watching you sleep.”

I gasped.  “You didn’t?”
 

He nodded.  “I kept waking to check that you really were there and you look so beautiful, almost angelic, when you’re asleep, that it’s difficult to resist watching you.”

I shook my head in mock despair.  “So this overbearing, possessive behavior isn’t doing you any good either.  Can’t you see
? It’s taking its toll on both of us.”

“I can see and I’ll try to be more tolerant.  I guess I need to trust you.  That’ll be a novel experience … I’ve never really trusted anyone.  The systems within the company ensure that someone is always looking over someone else’s shoulder – joint accountability and all that.”

“You’re joking!” 
Surely he wasn’t that much of a control freak … yes - of course, he is!

His face was a picture of sincerity, confirming my suspicions. 

“Lucas Hunter, you are the most infuriating man that I’ve ever met,” I grinned.

“Issy Prince, if you would just agree to a conventional adult relationship with me, I wouldn’t worry so much.”

I snorted.  “As if!  You’d be even worse.  You would think that I actually did belong to you.  Men would be too scared to be in the same room as me.  I would find it very difficult to run a business or live a normal life.”  I poked my tongue out and his eyes widened in response.

“But you would belong to me.  And I would be more relaxed about you being in male company because they would all know that you were mine.  And none of them would be foolish enough to try anything if you were mine.  I’d make sure of that.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes.  “Now that’s not being controlling at all.”

He ignored my sarcasm and trailed a fingertip along my collarbone.  “So, if I agree to back off, will you forgive and forget?”

I tried to think logically but that fingertip was now skimming along the tops of my breasts, just above the cups of my bra.  I could feel my body awakening to his touch.

“Last chance, Hunter.  Do you understand me?  Any more of this macho bullshit and I’m done.”

“Okay, okay.  Keep your panties on!  Actually …”

“I thought you were tired … exhausted, you said.”

He laughed.  “I didn’t say I was too tired.  Especially with you looking like that.  I’ve had to deliberately not look at your body.  I didn’t think it would go down well if I jumped on you while you were so pissed at me.  But now that you’ve forgiven me, I want to fuck you until you beg me to stop!”

I raised one eyebrow.  “That’s not going to happen.”

“What?  You’re not going to beg me to stop?  Oh yes you will.”

“No.  I meant that you aren’t going to fuck me - yet.”

I had to stop myself from laughing at the expression on his face.  You’d think I’d just taken his iPod and stamped on it with a 4 inch stiletto heel.  Then his face brightened.  “No, not yet.  You need to get changed and come back to mine.”

“Why do I?”

He looked smug.  “Unless you want all of them out there to hear you begging me to stop …”

“No, we’re not done talking.  There are still some unanswered questions.”

He pursed his lips and frowned.  “What unanswered questions?  If I answer them, will you come back to mine.  I have something planned.”

Something planned!  Sounds delicious!  Let’s get this done … quickly!
  “Yes.  Right, what is the goal that you’ve been working towards and why is it secret?”

Annoyance flashed across his face and was gone.  “It’s not secret.  It’s just not important any more.  That’s all.”

“But what is it?”

He huffed out a breath.  “You are like a Rottweiler with a bone, aren’t you?  It’s personal okay?  A score to settle from a long, long time ago.  Nothing that need concern you.”

“Wow, must be something huge to carry a grudge for years.”  He looked at me pointedly.  “Okay, I was just saying.  I won’t ask again.”

“Good,” he grunted.

“One last thing –”

“Thank fuck for that!” he muttered.

I huffed at the introduction.  “One last thing, why did you get angry at lunch?  I was only joking about you misusing your position and invading my privacy.  And even if I did think that, it is no reason to crush a wineglass with your bare hand – you could have been cut badly.”

If it’s possible for someone to withdraw from you, without moving an inch, Lucas did then.  It was as if he’d closed down from the conversation.

I persisted.  “Why did you get so angry, Lucas?  For fuck’s sake, tell me!”

His eyes scanned my face; I think he was searching for reassurance.  “I was jealous.  I know it’s stupid but I couldn’t help it.  I don’t know who he is – and I don’t want to know – but I hate it when you mention him.”

What the fuck?  Who is he jealous of now?  We were talking about him when he went all weird and angry.  It doesn’t make any sense.