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When I go downstairs for breakfast the following morning, the troops have all left, except Davey.
He’s standing at the coffee bar, his phone raised to his ear. He turns as I approach, his eyebrows raised in high arches. “Aha. You got a picture?...Great...Send it now.”
He pulls the phone from his ear and taps the notification. He frowns at the screen and lifts it back to his ear. “Yep. That’s him. Who is he? Hmm. Okay, let’s keep an eye on him. I want to know what his deal is. Cheers.”
“Morning,” I say as he cuts the call.
“Morning. You know this guy?” He turns the device to me.
“He looks vaguely familiar. I think he’s another trapper.”
“He is another trapper but that’s not it. Come sit.”
“Coffee first.” I direct my attention to Stefan, who’s practically trying to hide in the cups. Davey follows my gaze to him and his eyes narrow for a second. “Everything okay?” I ask, looking backwards and forwards between them.
Stefan nods and starts making my coffee. “What am I missing?”
“You’re looking at the chairman of the Eva Adams fan club,” Davey says dryly, before tipping the remaining tea down his throat.
“Come again?”
Davey levels a cool gaze in Stefan's direction. “You wanna tell him, or shall I?” But he continues with only a seconds pause. “This guy...” He jerks a thumb at Stefan. “...has pictures of Eva on his phone. He’s obsessed, but not dangerous. I have advised him to fuck off.”
“Sounds like good advice.” Stefan’s hand is shaking as he places the coffee cup on the bar, sloshing it down the sides. I’m not too surprised. I know he has a thing for my girl.
“So...” I pick up the cup and head for my office, Davey following behind. “The trapper?”
“He’s not only contacted Eva, personally, but he knows Jacob Stone.”
“Contacted her how?”
“Email. Your guy, Craig, said he’s discussing some kind of corporate event with Eva and Bells and can prove that he has had correspondences with Stone. It’s pretty friendly, but nothing specific. I say we let it play out. Find out what he and Stone are up to.”
“Agreed. So, the other thing...?” I hold open my office door and Davey enters. “Eva’s divorce?”
“It’s done. His email was enough to prove he received the papers and it has been submitted to the court.” I nod and take a deep breath.
“Then...I can ask her to marry me?” Davey looks at me hard, rubbing his chin. When he smiles, the first time I’ve ever seen him really smile, I sigh with relief as my face stretches into a matching grin.
“You can ask.” My brain is immediately concocting perfect scenarios. My wild thing will really be mine, if she says yes.
Davey reaches for his phone when it rings and listens without speaking. “I’m not leaving here until I’ve seen Eva this morning. He’ll have to wait...I don’t know. She’s still asleep...She seemed okay last night...Oh? Is he still alive?...Yeah. We’ll see.” And he hangs up. “I’m gonna wait for Blue. Be prepared. She might go into delayed shock.” I nod, and he turns and walks out of my office in the direction of the coffee bar. “Oh, and I’m planning a family dinner at the pub tomorrow night. If my mother doesn’t murder me. Around seven?”
A family dinner at the pub. I like that idea.
***
The following afternoon, I help Eva out of the passenger side of my car, clunk the door shut and take her hand before we set off walking, looking for the address she’s been given in Soho. I’m not convinced she should be working at all. The bruise on her face is still bluish-purple under the makeup she’s tried to conceal it with.
She pulls out her phone, checking the address again as we turn into Greek Street. She squints up at the exterior and points. “This one.” She flashes me an excited look and jogs up the steps. She pushes the door open and almost bumps into someone.
His hands reach out, probably intending to steady her, but I’m not giving him that chance. I move in close behind her and catch her as she jumps back. “Oh! Sorry!”
When his eyes meet mine, I know exactly who he is. The trapper whose picture Davey showed me very recently. The one connected to Stone.
“I’m sorry. I was coming to let you in, but I see I was too late.” His eyes flick to mine and my mouth twitches.
Yes, mate. “Much too late.” Oh, this is going to be bloody brilliant. Eva throws me a frown and follows him further inside. I take her hand again, but suddenly, her hand isn’t enough. I wrap my arm around her waist, my thumb tucked into her pocket, the thumb of my other hand tucked into my own pocket.
“Hi. I’m Chris.” He holds out a hand to shake mine.
“Will Hunter,” I tell him, as though he doesn’t already know that, and clutch his outstretched palm, tightening my grip.
“Will Hunter. I’ve heard that name.”
“Yeah?” I know. He nods.
“We move in the same circles.” His attention shifts to Eva, his face softens and his head tilts. An invitation.
“Can I get you a drink?”
“Sure.” I smile, trying my best not to laugh at his affronted expression.
“Eva?” he asks pointedly.
“Er...yes, please.”
“Shall I surprise you?”
“You could try,” I mutter, and Eva turns sharply in my direction. “What?” I mouth with a shrug as she glares at me.
“Take a seat. I won’t be a minute.”
“What is wrong with you!” she half squeals, half whispers as he walks away and I lead her to a table.
“I don’t know what you mean.” I give her wide, innocent eyes and in return, she gives me a look that lets me know just how thin the ice is in these parts as I sit beside her on the bench seat. Red leather. Nice.
“Stop it! He’s a client. I hope.”
“I’m a client too.”
“No. You are my man. Who happens to own the hotel I’m launching.”
I’m still grinning when he comes back with three martini glasses on a tray. As he sets them down, I bring her hand to my lips and then settle back in my seat, placing her palm on my thigh. His eyes are on that hand as he distributes the drinks. An Espresso Martini if I’m not mistaken: dark brown liquid with a creamy-coloured top, dotted with three coffee beans.
“Thanks.” I take a sip. “Not bad.” This time it’s Eva who giggles before looking away. I move a little bit closer and push my hand between the base of her spine and the back of the bench.
“That’s really good, Chris. What’s in it?” He reels off the ingredients as I sip my concoction, my fingertips inching into her waistband.
“I’m hoping to partner with the Italian place a few doors down for a dinner and cocktails night. Maybe we could go check it out. You can tell me what you think?” My eyebrow cocks and he smirks.
“Bells is the girl you need for a food opinion. I’ll let her know.” Eva has completely dismissed him and she doesn’t even know it as she glances around for her bag, and I splutter on my drink. “Can we have a look around?” she asks as she reaches down by her feet and pulls the bag up to the table top. “And you can talk me through any ideas you have.”
“Of course,” he says smoothly, but his jaw is tight, ticking under his skin.
“Oh, and a menu if you have one would be great.”
“Hmm. I wonder if they do Sex on the Beach?” I ask innocently, and Eva closes her eyes briefly.
“I do,” he says, his attention on me. “Screaming Orgasms, Slippery Nipples. Even Sex with an Alligator.”
“Sounds dangerous.” I chuckle. “What’s your favourite, baby?”
“Me? I like a Porn Star Martini,” she says without missing a beat. “Shall we?”
“Have you ever tried an Irish Cactus, Eva?” he asks before leading the way.
“Nope.”
“Huh. What about you, Will?”
“Can’t say that I have. Doesn’t sound very appealing. Maybe the Bleeding Heart Martini would work better for you?” He throws me a murderous look and I cough over my laugh.
––––––––
By the time we leave, he’s under no illusion that she’s mine and not in the slightest bit interested in him. But just to be clear...
“Fancy trying that Italian place for lunch, baby?”
“Sure.” She rises up on tiptoes and kisses my lips lightly. “I’m bloody starving.”
I hold the door open for her as she says goodbye to Chris, keeping my gaze glued to his as she walks past me and out into the street.
“What happened to your face, Eva?” Chris asks; his expression is hard to read.
“I bumped it.” She shrugs and takes my hand.
“Your man should take better care of you.”
“He takes perfect care of me.” She gives him a tight smile and tugs on my hand.
“Always.” I raise her knuckles to my lips.
I take Eva’s waist and we stroll further along the road to an Italian restaurant. “Do you think this is it?” I ask as I hold the door open.
“Let’s give it a go,” she says, gazing up at the signage.
––––––––
The waiter wants to seat us in the corner and is desperate for Eva to look at him. Of course she doesn’t. Not more than a passing glance when she says, “Is that a garden?” peering over my shoulder to an open door.
“A courtyard, yes.”
“Outside?” I ask, already knowing the answer. Eva’s eyebrows jump and I laugh. “Outside, please.”
“Can I get you something else to drink?” he asks after finding us a table, setting it with cutlery and a jug of water, and handing us menus.
“I’ll order at the bar. I’d like to see what you have.” And I need the loo. “Eva?”
“I’m good with water.” I kiss her hair and stroll inside, the waiter lingering as Eva picks up a menu.
When I make it back to the bar, I’m standing a few paces to the right of a woman who sounds familiar. She has her back to me though. I’m trying to place the voice when the barman asks for my order.
She turns slowly in my direction and I recognise her as another honeytrap. It can’t be a coincidence that she’s here. If Eva didn’t already know about Cactus, I’d be sweating.
“Thanks.” I take my drink when the barman places it in front of me. “Table twenty-five,” I let him know.
––––––––
“What do you fancy?” Eva asks as I take my seat opposite her in the sun. Well... there are a lot of tables here... “I’d be very surprised if I was on the menu,” she says in a snooty tone, reading my expression perfectly.
“You’ll always be on my menu, baby.” I could find a quiet corner...
“I’m having the chicken with Parma ham.” She drops her eyes back to the menu, refusing to play.
“Sounds good. I’ll have that.”
“You didn’t even look!”
“I’m looking at you.” Eva’s mouth twists and a flash of brunette catches my attention. The female trapper and her companion are seated near enough to be suspicious. I keep my eyes on Eva, taking her hand as it rests on the table.
“So? What did you think of the cocktail bar?”
“What did you think?” she asks, a giggle in her voice as she raises her glass to her lips.
“I think that guy would do well to keep his mind on the job.”
“And I think it’ll be a cool venue. It’s in a good location. Attracts the trendy crowd. So the launch will probably have to be super modern. Maybe even have an interactive online experience somehow...” Her voice trails away as her work brain kicks in, and she moves her hand from under mine to push her hair behind her ears.
I’m only half listening. That woman is openly staring and has been—off and on—since they sat down, but when Eva glances over her shoulder, I know she felt it too.
That is an issue.
Her fingers lace with mine again and she leans in closer and lowers her voice as she speaks, but after only a minute or so, she stands suddenly.
She excuses herself and walks around the table, glancing at the interested party, and turns my face to hers. When she moves her body close to mine and kisses me, I know it’s a message. One I’m happy to receive as her tongue teases mine, and her fingers thread through my hair. My girl is marking her territory and I bloody love it.
I watch her sashay away from me, right past the trappers table, and sit back in my chair, sipping my drink and grinning like a fool in love.
––––––––
I’m too turned on to think straight when Eva retakes her seat. I can’t keep my eyes off her, and the secret smile on her lips paired with the furtive glances my way say that she knows it.
Eva pushes her empty plate away and takes a sip of water. “That was really good,” she says appreciatively.
“Dessert?” I ask, draining my glass. She glances around for the menu. “Oh, you won’t find what I have in mind on that menu, baby.”
“Oh? Sticky toffee?”
I shake my head slowly, my eyes burning into hers. Her gaze drops to my mouth, her lips parting slightly. And she calls out to the waiter walking through, “Can we have the bill, please?”
My brain is so busy mentally undressing and seducing my girl, I don’t see the stubbornness in her face until she comes back from another trip to the ladies and holds out her hand. “Ready, baby?”
“He hasn’t been to...” You cheeky mare. “Eva...”
“Yes, Will?” She gives me a sweet smile.
“I’m not kidding,” I warn her. I want to take care of her.
“Me neither. You ready to leave, or do you want to sit here and argue about a bill that’s already been paid? ‘Cause I was hoping we could skip this bit and get dessert now.” Oh, she’s good. She blinks at me slowly, her head tilted slightly to the right. Playful but intentional. And I need her right now. Getting back to Escape will take too long. Her office isn’t ideal. It’s a shared space. So it’ll have to be... Fuck it.
“Come with me, Ms Adams,” I growl, my hormones overruling my head. Again.
––––––––
It’s not until I’m pushing open the heavy glass door that leads to Cactus that I have any type of doubt about what I’m doing. But it’s too late now.
“Hey, Will,” Kelly says cheerfully. Then her eyes land on Eva. She gasps, wide-eyed, and claps a hand to her mouth. Subtle, Kelly. Subtle.
I try not to look at Eva as I grasp her hand tighter and pull her around the corner and into the main workspace.
All eyes turn our way. All activity ceases. What the fuck are you doing! My brain screams as though my sanity has taken a hiatus.
“Guys, you know Eva.” Every one of them is staring. Most, slightly gaping. I notice Luke isn’t here. And, thank Christ, neither is Karen. “Well,” I smile awkwardly. “This is new. Maybe you should come in with me all the time. I’d get some peace and quiet.” I can’t read Eva’s expression at all. Other than mild shock. This was definitely a bad idea. “Come.” I lead her by the hand through the hive of trappers and down the corridor to my office.
I close the door, then turn back to lock it—it’ll give me a second longer to catch her—before I face Eva again. Her eyes are wide, her breathing uneven.
“Say something.” I need a response. I need to know how bad this is.
“Um...” Her eyes dance from side to side, as though trying to find words. Show her! my brain screams, and my feet finally move.
My lips brush hers. Gently. Testing. And her body lights up. She still wants me. Yessss! Oh, thank God.
I let go of any restraint and really kiss her. In my office. Knowing there are a dozen men out there wondering what’s happening in here. That they’ve all fantasised about this, just as much as I have. But I’m the only one who gets the reality.
––––––––
When Eva is curled up, half-asleep, thirty minutes or so later, warm and post-orgasmic in my lap and wearing nothing but my jacket, I kiss her hair again, my thumb circling on her upper arm. And I can’t believe my luck.
She startles and lifts her head from my chest. “Hi.” I smile.
“Hi,” she croaks, and settles against my shoulder.
“Desk sex is up there with table sex,” I tell her, scooting around a bit for a kiss.
“Hmm.” Her eyes start to close again as she nuzzles against me.
“I love you, Eva.”
“I love you too.” Her voice is soft and sleepy. Sexy as hell. But I don’t get the chance to act on the thought before someone’s knocking on the door. Nosy bastards, I grumble to myself. Maybe I’ll send them all home for the day and do that again on every desk...
“Just a sec,” I call, taking in Eva’s horrified expression. Oh, baby...
I steady her elbow as she wiggles from my lap, in a hurry to get dressed.
“Can I come in?”
Luke.
“No!” I call out, laughing as Eva dashes frantically around the room in search of her strewn clothes. I pull on my jeans and shove her underwear deeper into my pocket. I push my arms through my shirt but that’s as dressed as I’m intending to get. It’ll only delay things when I send Luke back out there with his instructions to get rid.
I glance at Eva, now fully dressed and putting on her boots, and go open the door.
“Hey. You got a minute,” Luke asks, his eyes on the file in his hand. When he looks up at me, his face is a picture. I see it when he puts the pieces together. His wide eyes leave mine and dart across the room to my girl.
“What’s up, Luke?” I can’t keep the smirk off my face.
“I... erm...” he stammers. Eva is looking from him to me, her cheeks reddening.
“You... erm, what?” Maybe I shouldn’t have locked the door... I saunter over to Eva. My girl. In my office. Who was just screaming my name. “Eva, that’s Luke. You’ve met him before.”
“Have I?” She frowns, not knowing she’s just made my bloody day. Again. “Okay? Hi,” she says to Luke, giving him a quick smile. There’s not a hint of recognition on her face. She really didn’t even notice him. At all. And Luke looks sick. Physically sick.
I pull her body against mine and she stiffens. “You getting dressed?”
“No. No point. I don’t know why you bothered either,” I tell her, my hands sliding down her back. Luke lets out a strangled sound and we both look at him sharply.
“You need something, Luke?” He stares back at me, his jaw working under his skin. He looks like he wants to kill me. I need to get him away from Eva though. She’s getting uncomfortable, so I offer her a drink and drag Luke from the room, his shirt clenched in my fist.
“What?” I growl, slamming the kitchen door after me. Luke’s teeth press together and his fists clench. Oh! Bring it on.
“What the hell are you doing, bringing her here?” I can’t help myself.
“I thought I’d give her a tour of my empire.”
“And if she finds out?” I regard him for a beat.
“She knows.” His eyes widen and he snaps his gaping mouth shut. I nod and continue. “She knows everything. And she still loves me.”
“You’ve got to be—”
Brad pokes his head around the kitchen door.
“Sorry to interrupt, but you should know Karen’s—”
Fuck! I’m out of there so fast I don’t catch the rest of his sentence. Karen anywhere near Eva can’t ever be a good thing.
I can hear Karen’s shrill verbal vomit as I run across the corridor.
Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck!
“Eva?” Karen has her back to me, focused on my girl, but Eva’s alarmed eyes find mine. Karen is really putting on a show, but I keep my attention glued to Eva, not allowing myself to flinch at the accusations. Eva watches every step of my cautious approach.
“Is that why you brought her here? To fuck her in the room next to the guys who couldn’t land her?” The nugget of truth in that statement burns my throat. “That’s it, isn’t it? You brought her here to fuck her! Did you bend her over the desk? I’m surprised it’s still standing after the number of women he’s banged on it.”
I walk nearer to Eva and reach for her hand to pull her up from the sofa. It would do me no good to explain that Karen is lying. That I’ve never banged anyone on that particular desk, other than Eva herself. Because when Karen begged for it, I sent her packing. If I did, then I’d also need to explain that Karen is jealous as hell, since she wanted more than the fuck-buddy status women usually get from me, so I tell Eva the only truth I can. “I love you, Wild Thing.”
My heart swells to double size when she whispers, “I love you too.” And triples when she kisses me with plenty of sweet heat.
The office door bangs and Eva jumps. “I’m sorry, baby,” I tell her, pulling her harder against my body.
“What for? Bringing me here to fuck me or for your ex?”
She’s not my ex. Not the way she means, but telling her that wouldn’t win me any points, so I shrug and say, “Both.”
She lifts her chin and peels my fingers from her waist, removing herself from my hold as my head tries to come up with the words to make her stay. She stops at the door... and twists the key. I’m confused, not daring to breathe, never mind hope, when she turns around to face me. And kicks off her boots.
Her fingers curl around the hem of her top and she glides the material over her head.
“Don’t look so worried, Will.” She drops the top on the carpet and walks towards me, her hands reaching around to the clasp of her bra. “My ex tried to kill you.”
The bra falls to her feet, and she’s still moving slowly and seductively towards me. I swallow hard, drinking her in. Her fingers glide around to the waistband of her jeans and she shimmies out of the denim, leaving them where they fall.
She tosses her hair over her shoulder, stark naked. Her nipples are hardening by the second and her thighs press together.
“Clothes.” Her eyes flick down my body, and I rid myself of them as she looks on. “Tell me,” she says, her voice low and husky, her eyes scorching. “Tell me how you dreamed it.”
I take one huge step towards her and wrap my arms around her thighs, just under her bum. She holds onto my shoulders as I carry her over to the high-backed leather chair and sit, encouraging her to open up and straddle me.
“Like this,” I tell her, my eyes on her mouth before they devour the rest of her. Her back arches, pushing her breast towards my face, and I need no further instruction. I lower my mouth and suck, kiss, and nip until she’s squirming on my lap and rubbing herself on my thigh, back and forth.
I take her hips and lift her, setting her back down in the perfect position, and buck up as she moves in counterpoint, our bodies connecting as though they’re made for each other.
Her soft, warm insides are rippling and when she rises up on her toes, I slide my hands under her bum, lifting and lowering her on my cock. Her hands grip my hair, her arms resting on my shoulders as she takes my mouth, her tongue gyrating with mine in the same intense rhythm as our joined bodies.
It’s torture. It’s heaven. It’s everything I hoped it would be.
When I can feel the beginning of the end, I slide a hand around her body, over her hip and aim for her clit. She catches my wrist.
“Eva!” I call out, swallowing hard. “I need—Oh, fuck,” I groan when she slides her own hand down between our bodies. I can’t take my eyes off the twitching of her fingers. My hips pump harder. Faster. Her hand moves frantically until her mouth falls open and her head drops back, her body trembling, and I fill her with hot spurts of seed.
“Well,” I pant. “That’s one ticked off the bucket list.” She giggles breathlessly.
“How many more are there?”
“Oh, baby. Let me show you.” And I stand up fast, holding her tighter when she gasps, and deposit her in the chair.