Coerced (Billionaire romance)(18)

Still, it was hard to stomach that even as much as it pained him to work with his cousins, they were stronger together than apart.

“The timing has to be right,” he said tersely. Jesus, could this day get worse? “For now, it behooves us to remain where we are.”

“Then I suspect you’ll have to find a way to play nice, brother dear,” she pointed out before leaning in and pressing a kiss on his cheek before leaving the room and Sutton to his ill temper.

But honestly, the real reason for his temper had nothing to do with his cousins or the fact that business dealings with them often left him gnashing his teeth.

It had everything to do with Elizabeth.

He could close his eyes and smell her soft blonde hair, feel her plump body cuddled against his…

Could see the heartbreak in her blue eyes.

Fuck!

He scrubbed at his eyeballs as if that alone would remove the image burned into his memory but it remained.

Why’d he go into that fucking bar in the first place?

Because he’d been embarrassed to show Elizabeth his messed up face.

The fact was, he’d wanted to go to her and let her tend to him, kiss his wounds, and chastise him for being an idiot.

He was losing his damn mind.

He didn’t need coddling from a woman.

He didn’t need her kisses or her concern.

He just needed her on her knees, ass up, ready for him when the whim suited him.

Yeah…keep telling yourself that. Let’s see how that works out for you.





Bookmark: 13

-13-

By the third day of total solitude, Elizabeth wondered if Sutton would ever return.

She felt his absence like a cold thing in her heart but she refused to let it rule her and instead turned that angst and pain into a channel for her art.

Her sketchbook was nearly full of dark, sensual sketches that she was ready to commit to canvas but as she was preparing to make a trip to the art supply store, she received a call from Covington Art House.

“Miss Downing, I presume…”

“Yes,” she answered, immediately recognizing the effeminate voice of Mr. Polk, the Covington Art House director. “May I help you?”

“You certainly can, my darling. It seems I may have been a bit hasty in my decision. My apologies, of course, but I was having a bit of a day when you came to see me. Would you be so kind as to give me the opportunity of looking at your work a second time?”

Elizabeth knew Sutton had a hand in Polk’s sudden reversal but she wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity, no matter where it’d originated.

“Of course, I would love to,” she said, smiling. “What time is good for you?”

“Whatever you have available. I shall work around your schedule, of course.”

Elizabeth shook her head, wryly amused by the change.

Sutton may be accustomed to people bowing and scraping to meet his every need but it was still a little jarring for Elizabeth.

While she wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity, a part of her was sad that her art hadn’t moved Mr. Polk at their first meeting.

She knew her art was good, but to be honest, Polk had only given her portfolio a cursory glance before deciding it wasn’t right for the gallery.

“I’m free today,” she said and Polk quickly agreed.

“Excellent. I look forward to see you again, let’s say around, noon?”

“I’ll be there.”

“Very good. Good day, Miss Downing.”

And the line clicked off.

Elizabeth sank on the sofa, still processing. A happy smile found her lips even though her heart was still heavy.

Oddly, the person she wanted to share this happy news with was the one person whom she was fairly certain was the devil in disguise.

Well, that’s that. Elizabeth sighed and rose from the sofa, determined to put one foot in front of the other for her own gain.

If Sutton had taught her anything thus far in their short but heated relationship, it was that you had to grab opportunity where you found it.

And that’s exactly what Elizabeth was going to do.

***

Vince entered Sutton’s office, all business and no chitchat, which was typical of Vince these days but after their tussle, it was even more so, which bugged Sutton because they’d once been close.

“Honey is ready to see the club. You available to show it tonight?”

Sutton shrugged. “I suppose.”

“Good.”

“Is that all?” Sutton asked.

Vince’s hard gaze narrowed. “Is there something else?”

“Stop dancing around the issue, Vince. You want me to apologize for insulting your new lifestyle choices and I want you to apologize for fucking punching me in the face. Is that plain enough for you?”

Vince looked ready to throw another punch but he seemed to think better of it and said, “You’re right. I’m fucking pissed as hell at you, Sutton. What’s gotten into you lately? It’s like you wanted me to punch you.”

Maybe he was right. He’d been feeling edgy because of the situation with Elizabeth and he’d been gunning for a fight of some sort. Maybe he deserved the punch to the nose.

“Maybe,” Sutton conceded with a sigh. “Look, I was out of line but, things have really changed with you guys and I just don’t understand.”

Vince relaxed and leaned against the doorjamb. “Hell yes, things have changed, man. We grew up, got married, started having kids. Those things change a person and since meeting my wife I’ve realized that the things I put a heavy value on were really just stupid childish shit.”

Sutton held back his groan. More domesticated propaganda.

“Don’t you miss getting some strange pussy? You used to be the fucking king, man. Now you’re telling me that you don’t miss all the wild sex?”

Vince chuckled as if Sutton was clueless and would never get it.

“God willing, you’ll understand one day and you’ll get it. Until then, you won’t and that’s okay, just don’t shit on my life because you don’t understand it. And for your health and safety, don’t ever talk about my wife like that again.”

Sutton could tell Vince wasn’t joking in any way.

“Deal,” he said. “For the record, I’m sorry for insulting your wife. She’s a great woman and I was just having an off day.”

“About that...what’s going on with you?’

Should he tell Vince? A part of him wanted to, needed to talk to someone, but for some reason, he kept silent.

Maybe he wasn’t ready to hear what Vince would say.

“Just an off day. Nothing more than that,” he lied with an easy grin.

Vince motioned to his own face in reference to Sutton’s. “Healing up pretty good.”

“Yeah.”

“Good. All right, Honey is set to meet you at the club at 10 p.m. That work for you?”

Sutton thought of Elizabeth and how he’d love to be cuddled up to her warm, soft body by that time but seeing as he hadn’t had the balls to return to the apartment as of yet, he didn’t have any plans that would preclude meeting up with Honey.

“Works for me,” he agreed with a private sigh.

Vince left and Sutton leaned back in his executive leather chair, remembering quite clearly the first time Elizabeth had walked through his doors. So cute, so vulnerable. Destined to be his.

As if on cue, his cock thickened and he pushed at it with irritation.

Yeah, so not the time.

Maybe he could text her. And say what?

Sorry, I hurt your feelings. Sorry, I got a blowjob from a cheap hooker. If it’s any consolation, I didn’t really enjoy it all that much.

He cringed. Somehow he didn’t think sharing that he’d been thinking of Elizabeth the whole time was going to soften the punch.

He was torn by the indignant defensiveness of having to apologize for something he never promised he wouldn't do and the need to soothe the hurt he'd caused by his actions.

It was shitty to say that he never promised her fidelity — only if he was willing to admit that he had feelings for her beyond those that were defined by their contract.

It was supposed to be sex and only sex.

Hot and dirty sex — the kind that made you wonder if you’d ever be the same afterward.

But somehow...it'd became more than that and he wasn't even sure when it'd happened.

Maybe it'd always been that way and his conscious mind hadn't picked up on that until it was too late.

The fact was...he didn't want to let Elizabeth go. Not ever. And that certainly wasn't part of the contract. It wasn't fair to her and he couldn't expect to hold her in chains indefinitely simply to appease this indescribable need he had for her.

The bottom line was he had to figure this out before it drove him insane and he took Elizabeth down with him.

And he had to stop avoiding her.

Tonight, he would sleep in his bed...with Elizabeth.

Like it or not, she was still bound to the terms of his contract and he was going to make her honor them.

Hopefully, sleeping beside him wasn't too terrible an idea.

One way to find out.





Bookmark: 14

-14-

Elizabeth took a deep breath before entering Covington House, her portfolio satchel gripped tightly in her sweaty palms.

Even though she had an inkling that she was a shoe-in thanks to Sutton’s influence, she still felt flutters of anxiety.

Let’s do this. If nothing else, trust in your art.

Mr. Polk saw her enter and ushered to her side, immediately fawning all over her, his gaze alight with admiration that hadn’t been there before.