Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Hunter
I didn't think I had ever seen her sulk before. It would've been amusing if I wasn't furious with her at the distance she had established between us. I, of course, didn't agree with what she said, but I wasn't one to plead with anyone, and I expected her to take that back on her own accord. But I had forgotten just how stubborn she was, so even though this was very clearly hurting her, I completely expected her not to take it back till forever.
Sighing, I shook my head and put my laptop away.
"How is it that you're the one who suggested we be solely professional, yet you look like you've been trying to hold back tears for the past two hours?"
At my words, she turned to me.
"I... I haven't been holding back tears."
"You're lying to me again?" I asked.
"You expect me to say that I have even if I have? Isn't that a bit unrealistic? I'm not lying to you; I just don't have to be completely transparent with you. I don't owe you that unless it solely concerns your work."
She had yelled a little, and to say it startled me was an understatement. My brows raised as I watched her, and when she turned to me, I could see the fear in her eyes. I could also see the tears that gathered.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I'm sorry. I'm just -"
"Come here," I said, and the tears fell from her eyes.
She was such a fucking baby, and I couldn't believe just how much I loved this side of her. She was so bloody honest, so bloody transparent. Once again, I was beginning to understand why I had felt so comfortable with her without even realizing it. Now it all made sense to me and made me understand that I wasn't in any way going to honor her suggestions.
"Come here," I repeated, and she shook her head as her hand lifted to wipe the moisture off her face.
"That's an order," I said, and a few seconds later, she rose to obey because she couldn't defy this.
She headed towards me, and to my surprise, she held my gaze. She didn't look away but tried to look as unaffected as possible, but everything gave her away.
"Sit astride me," I said, and her eyes widened.
"Sir?"
“Astride me," I replied. "That too is an order."
She watched me, and then she did as I had asked.
She was back to dressing as unimpressive as could possibly be, so there was nothing difficult about this. She had on baggy, dark, ill-fitting pants and a hideous blue dress shirt. Knowing just how sick her body was underneath this dreary outfit, I almost cried when she had come out from her quarters earlier this morning and met me at the elevator. In a way, and given how nice she was at dressing, I was convinced I knew how standoffish she was. And so, the way she had acted since then, and everything she had said, none of it was surprising to me.
And I realized how, as I watched her, I myself had also unconsciously decided how I was going to respond. I was going to wait to call bullshit on her feigning that she had a steel heart and wait for her to break.
“I had thought you'd at least be able to hold yourself together till we get to the hotel, and I couldn't see you, but you couldn't even keep it together for the flight?"
At my words, her eyes widened, and then she tried to get off, but it was too late. My arms banded around her, and I ensured that she stayed in place.
"Let me go, Sir," she said, and she smiled.
"I won't. I don't want to. You, on the other hand, seem to be looking for every opportunity, even remotely possible, to let me go."
She stopped then and looked at me, and tears rolled down her eyes again.
"I'm so sorry, I'm not usually emotional. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me; I just-"
"You like me," I said, and I could feel her entire body turn to stone.
"Sir?"
"Am I wrong?" I asked. "You like me, and you care about me. You also care about my business because I care about it, and you didn't want to bring any harm to it. And because of this, you're willing to deny yourself. Am I wrong?"
She watched me, and then she lowered her head. I leaned forward and whispered into her ears.
"If you were the one, and you had someone in your life who acted this way toward you... then, coupled with the fact that the sex between you two is unbelievable, would you let go so easily?"
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against mine.
"Stop... please."
I held her even tighter, and she had no choice but to stare into my eyes.
"Do you really want me to stop?" I asked.
"You know I won't force you. Since you've already expressed what you want, I'll respect it. But for the sake of giving things a second consideration, would you rather find a solution with me?"
She watched me, and then she nodded.
"I admit that my reaction yesterday was quite over the top. But I don't regret it though. If it were anyone else, I cannot say that I would have been as annoyed or affected, but because it was you, I was more sensitive than I usually am. However, I am not going to apologize for that either.
She watched me.
"I told you earlier that we shouldn't control our time together during these ten days. Afterwards, after we return to New York, we can deal with whatever the consequences are. But for now... can we just not think for once? About repercussions and about the future? Which means that if I get pissed off that he keeps harassing you despite the very clear warnings to stay away from you, then I will punch him in the nose once again, and you cannot get scared or worried. As I told you, no one person can ever be powerful enough to negatively affect my business or hinder my way. This is a trivial concern on your part."
She nodded, and I could only hope she was taking in all that I was saying.
"So... what do you say?" I asked. "We go back to truly being on vacation. Without any restrictions?"
She considered this, and then she leaned forward and kissed me. The plane wasn't that huge, so I was certain that whatever we did could easily be discovered by the air hostesses; there was no room for us, at least, so we couldn't go anywhere else. Madison, however, seemed not to care.
Her hands went to the buttons of her blouse, and then she began to unbutton them. I realized then that there was one more thing that I wanted to say.
"Also," I said, "From now on, don't dress that way anymore. I'm not a man without self-control, and we've already established that you're more than just a female I truly don't mind advances from, so there's no need to cover up in order to help me resist temptation because as of now and between us, that is impossible. And I know what you taste like, and whenever I have the appetite for this and for you within however many days or hours, then I need you to make yourself available to me. Unless of course you don't want to."
She nodded just as she finished with the buttons, and then she was pulling the fabric off her shoulders.