Read Exposed - Part Two (The Exposed Series, #2) Online

Authors: Deborah Bladon

Tags: #new adult romance, #new adult romance with sex, #contemporary romance novel, #contemporary romance with sex, #contemporary romance series, #new adult romance series

Exposed - Part Two (The Exposed Series, #2) (6 page)

BOOK: Exposed - Part Two (The Exposed Series, #2)
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"You can't be like this when you're in a relationship..."

"What?" he interrupts me. "What do you know about relationships, Sadie? You've never been in one."

I take in a heavy breath to temper the sharp edge of his words. He's right. What do I know? I've never been in a relationship.

"I didn't mean that." He's pulling my limp body into his chest. "Christ, Sadie. Please. I didn't mean it."

I push back with all the strength I can pull from within me. "You're right. I've never been in a relationship. If this is what it's like. I don't want to be."

"Don't go." He's tugging frantically at my arms as I pull away.

"I can't stay." I pull free and turn to walk out.

Chapter 13

"Y
ou know more about medicine than I do," Alexa says as she takes a bite of her pizza. "My best guess is that he's bipolar."

I almost choke at the suggestion. I try to swallow the pizza I'm chewing on before my laughter causes it to fly out of my mouth. "He's not bipolar. He's a liar."

"Why do you keep sleeping with him?" She picks at the mushrooms on her slice, pushing them to the edge of the plate. "There are so many cocks in the ocean. I'll find you another one just as nice."

I push my head back to roar with laughter. "I needed that."

"It's true." She winks as she takes a sip of soda. "Why do you think I like swimming so much?"

"You're on fire tonight." I chuckle. "Seriously, he's got way too much going on for me. It's like a police interrogation every time I ask him anything. I feel like he's on the verge of asking for a lawyer when I ask him simple questions."

"Maybe he's in witness protection." She pulls her brows together. "I saw something like this on an episode of Law and Order SVU. The guy wasn't who he said he was and he did a lot of messed up shit."

I stare at her wondering exactly how her mind strings all these random thoughts together into such semi-coherent thoughts. "Maybe I'm just being too overly cautious."

"You're not married to the guy." She points her finger at me. "You're fucking him. Don't make it more serious than it is. Just enjoy it."

I purse my lips together as I consider her words. Maybe she's right. Maybe I need to lighten up. He did tell me everything about Coral and he seems honest about his feelings for me. Maybe I do need to just embrace it for what it is and push my doubts aside.

***

I
'm downstairs. Please let me up.

I stare at my words on my phone's screen. It's been over five minutes since I sent that text and I've gotten no reply. It's eleven o'clock on a Tuesday night. I thought he'd be here. I assumed he'd be at home.

I was in the shower. I'll be right down.

I feel a lump in my throat at his reply. My mind automatically jumps to the conclusion that he's not alone. Why else would he be showering this late and why didn't he just buzz me up?

The elevator chimes its arrival and I turn to see him step off. His black hair is still damp and pushed back from his face. The blue sweater he's wearing brings his eyes to life. They are so brilliantly blue. I run my eyes down his jeans before they settle on his black dress shoes. How does anyone look so amazing right after they shower?

"Are you hungry?" He pulls me into a quick embrace. It's as if the heated conversation we had in his dining room a few days ago never happened.

"Not really." I glance up into his eyes." I was just hoping we could talk about something."

"We will." He brushes his lips against the tip of my nose as his arm encircles my waist. "I haven't eaten yet. Let's go."

I follow his lead in silence. I came here to tell him that I was going to push my petty jealousy aside because I just wanted to enjoy every moment I could with him. Now, we're going out late at night to a restaurant. He hates restaurants and he loves having me in his apartment. How can I talk to him about not being jealous when it's all I can feel in this moment?

"Why can't we stay here?" I ask as he presses the elevator's call button. "Is your roommate here?"

His shoulders heave forward and I know he's disappointed by the question. "No, Sadie."

I turn my gaze down as I cross my arms on my chest. "Okay," I whisper.

"Every time we try and talk upstairs I end up ravishing you." A grin pulls on the corner of his lips. "I want that now too, but what happened the other day can't happen again. I want to talk in a neutral place and I want some food."

He has an answer for everything. Why is it so hard for me to believe him? I want to follow Alexa's advice and just take what I can from this. I have to do that. If I don't, I'm going to lose any time I have with him.

"Thai food?" I push myself into his chest.

"You are hungry, sunshine." He reaches for my hand, as the elevator swings open in the lobby. "Thai food it is."

Chapter 14

"I
have a gift for you." He finally moves his hand from my thigh. He rested it there when we sat down at the table of a small, dimly lit restaurant. "Something I think it's important that you have."

"Is it the pen?" I ask expectantly. I've felt badly about it since the day he offered it to me and I threw it in his face.

"That's on your desk in your room at home." He smirks. "I put it there when I was snooping in your room the night of your mom's party."

"You were in my room before I got back up there?" I try to remember if anything seemed out of place. "How did you know it was my room?"

He blushes. It's the first time I've seen a pale pink tint rush over his face. "This is humiliating."

"You found my vibrator?" I grimace.

He throws his head back with gleeful laughter. "You have a vibrator?" The words are barely audible through the chuckles.

I scrunch my nose and nod my head quickly. "Now who is humiliated?"

"That wasn't it but you'll have to show me that and more importantly what you do with that." He winks at me.

"We'll see about that." I move the food around on my plate. "How did you know it was my room?"

He reaches between his legs to pull the wooden chair across the floor so his knees are touching mine. I don't hesitate when he brushes his soft lips against mine. I moan at the sensation of his tongue dueling with mine.

"You're the only woman who can make me hard with a kiss," he whispers into my mouth. "Only you."

I smile at the words. I want to be the only woman. That's what I want most. It's the only thing I truly want.

"I got on the bed and smelled your pillow. I breathed it in. I imagined being there with you." He lightly brushes his lips against mine again. "I could have stayed there forever."

Emotions course through me. I can't speak. I just nod slowly holding my hand to his cheek.

"The gift." He pulls back slightly and reaches into his pocket. "Close your eyes."

I hesitate. I'm so witless when I'm around him. He has the power to make me forget everything. He's doing that now.

"Close them." He reaches to lightly kiss my left eyebrow.

I close them and feel his hand opening mine. Something metal is there. It's a set of keys. My eyes pop open.

"These are keys to my place." He pulls my hand in a fist to cover the key fob. "They're for you."

I search his face for anything he can offer. "Why?"

"I don't want there to be any doubt." He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it.

"You don't have to do this." My hand pops open. "I don't want to push you into anything."

"I can't lose you, Sadie." He whispers as he presses his face into my neck. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you."

***

"D
id you make plans for me to meet your young man?" My father is standing in the doorway of my bedroom, leaning against the frame. "I'm anxious to meet him."

"Not yet." I turn to look at him. I thought I could bring the subject up last night after dinner but Hunter insisted on driving me home.  The lingering doubt about someone being with him was quieted by the gift of the keys but I still had questions I knew he'd likely not answer.

"What about tonight?" He walks into the room and picks up the keys Hunter gave me that I threw onto my desk.

"I'll call and see if he's free." I scroll through my phone.

"What are these?" My father dangles the key fob in his hand.

"Just keys," I offer. He'll flip if I tell him that the keys are for Hunter's place.

He studies them as if they hold a clue to another wonder of the world. "Do you have your own place? These look like apartment keys."

"Just extra keys a friend gave me." I stand and scoop them out of his hand. "I've been thinking about getting a place though."

'You don't want to live in the dorms?" His eyes trailed the keys and they're focused on my hand now.

"I'd like more privacy." I sit on the edge of the bed. "Maybe I can get a small apartment close to campus."

"Have you talked to your mother about this?" He raises his gaze to my face. "You know how she feels about you living alone."

"I'm alone most of the summer when I'm here."

"The staff is always here," he says. He has no clue that when I'm here by myself I send them all away.

"I'm old enough to live alone. Alexa does." I sound like a petulant child. I don't care. I want my life to finally be my own life. Now that I know about Coral I don't feel as though I'm living my life for someone else. I want to live it for me.

"That girl is not a good example of anything, Sadie." He shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

"She's my best friend," I say curtly. "I'm going to start looking for a place next week."

"Let me know how much you need." He throws the words in my direction as he walks out of the room.

"I'm doing this myself," I call after him. "I don't need your help."

Chapter 15

"H
e's late." My father glances down at his wristwatch for what feels like the thirtieth time since we sat down at our table.

"He'll be here soon," I whisper while tapping out another text message to Hunter on my phone.

Please get here soon. My dad is flipping out.

"Who picked this place?" He brings the glass of scotch to his lips. "It's a bit too trendy for my taste."

My mother ignores our conversation, her gaze planted on a table where three men in their thirties are toasting with a rich burgundy.

"I picked it," I answer. It's a new place and I wanted to experience it with Hunter. Seeing how he rarely wants to eat out, dragging him here with my parents seemed like the ultimate trick to get him through the door.

"What's it called again?" My father throws his gaze around the room as if a neon sign is going to be flashing the name in his direction.

"Meteor." I sigh. It's now almost an hour past the time Hunter was supposed to meet us. I glare at the entrance willing him to walk through it.

I'm startled when my phone chimes signalling a new text.

I'm stuck in a meeting, sunshine. I can't leave. Give my regrets to your folks. H.

I feel my blood pressure rising as I read the words over and over again. He's not coming. He promised me earlier on the phone he'd be here. He even said in a text ninety minutes ago that he was on his way. The moment I texted him the name of the restaurant he fell silent. He had to have known his meeting might run late. Why didn't he tell me there was a chance he couldn't come?

"He's not coming, is he?" My father is already on his feet, his wallet in his hand.

I shake my head silently from side-to-side. Humiliation is pulling my voice within.

"We're leaving. We'll eat at that steakhouse by the courthouse. Let's go." He throws a few bills on the table as he barks at my mother.

"This was such a waste of time." My mother's gaze is still entranced by the trio of businessmen in the corner. "Are you coming or not?"

I pull myself from the chair feeling as though my feet weigh a ton. How could he do this to me? It was a simple request? It was just one meal. All I wanted was a few hours to show my father what an amazing man I'd met.

***

"C
an you cover my shift on Saturday?" Alexa yanks hard on my ponytail causing my neck to snap back.

"Ouch," I scream at her. "Easy on the hair." I rub my hand over the back of my head. "You almost gave me whiplash, jerk."

"Sorry." She scrunches her lips together. "Can you do it?'

"Sure," I answer. I wasn't going to have plans. I hadn't heard from Hunter since he stood me up last night and I wasn't sure I wanted to hear from him anytime soon.

As if on cue he's standing at the counter. Sunglasses are covering his brilliant blue irises. His suit is dark, almost black and with his current stance he looks like a cross between a secret service agent and a hit man.

"Can I get you something?" Alexa pipes up and a wide smile pulls on her lips. "Coffee? Tea? Maybe me?"

"I'm here to see her." He motions over her head in my direction. "Sadie, take a break."

"You're him?" Alexa seems startled when she realizes it's Hunter beneath the dark glasses. "You look different."

He ignores her comment and pulls the glasses from his face. "Sadie, can you take a break?"

"I can't." I shrug my shoulders as I continue to restock the cup stoppers. "We're swamped today."

He cocks a brow as he circles his head around the almost empty bistro. "Take a break. This is important."

"Go." Alexa pushes on me. "Just go."

I throw her a steely gaze. Why doesn't she have my back on this? I told her on the way to work that Hunter stood me up and now she's practically throwing me into his arms.

"Five minutes," I warn as I take off my apron and follow him to a table near the front window.

"You're pissed about last night, aren't you?" He questions as I lower myself into the chair opposite him.

I scan his face, noting how tired he looks. "You stood me up. It was an important night for me and you just didn't bother to come."

"It's not like that." He reaches across the table with both hands to grab mine but I'm too quick and I retreat.

"What's it like then?" I challenge. "You said you'd be there and then suddenly you were too busy."

BOOK: Exposed - Part Two (The Exposed Series, #2)
2.26Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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