Now, Please(33)

Hunter didn’t say anything as he helped me into the vehicle and we drove back to our building in silence. It wasn’t until we were headed to our rooms that he said, “I thought it was consensual at first.” His voice was low, dripping with emotion. He leaned against the doorframe with a lowered head. “I walked into the area and all I saw was you kissing him. I…” His jaw clenched and he straightened up. He shook his head and looked away. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Obviously I wouldn’t,” I said in a small voice.

Hunter turned toward his room. “Not with him, maybe, but you’re free outside of your time with me.” He shook his head again and let himself into his room without another word. I stood, lost for words, as the door shut behind him. The hard clank echoed down the hallway.

In a daze, unsure of what had just happened, I entered my room. The clock read nearly twelve. My suitcases were all packed and ready to go, and I stepped forward to go into Hunter’s room and check in with the next steps. Before I got there, though, the door to Hunter’s room swung closed. He’d locked himself away from me.

Not really believing it, I stared for a minute at that white surface. His words rang through my memory again. You are free outside of your time with me.

I sat on my bed, processing.

Apparently he thought I was the kind of girl he usually employed. I’d do him in the afternoon, and head home to someone else. Why stop at one guy—I could have a couple. Hell, I could have a whole swarm of guys ready to drop trow when I got horny. Three, four—why not a whole football team?

I stood in a rush of anger. A moment later, hardly in control, I banged on the connecting door with a closed fist. The whole floor probably heard it, but I didn’t care. This was bullshit. I was tired of being dicked around by this guy.

The latch sounded before revealing his face, perfectly composed. His business mask was on; he was trying to close himself off from emotion.

I had enough emotion for the both of us.

“I’m sick of this, Hunter. I get that you have issues. I do. But guess what? We all have issues. We all have crap that went wrong. You can’t use that as a reason to sling shit at everyone else. You’re worried because you gave me permission to screw others. Well, guess what—screw you! I’m not that kind of girl. You know I’m not. So what you are doing here, this scared little boy routine, is bullshit. It’s bullshit. And you’re an asshole!”

I was blubbering by the end. His expression hadn’t changed. He wore that same distant mask that he always did, trying to push me away. Again. Even after last night. After what he’d demanded I feel last night.

My heart felt like it was ripping in half. Angry tears rolled down my face.

I braced my hands on my hips. “That’s it, then? You’re freezing up on me?”

A knock sounded at his door. He glanced that way before looking back at me. I saw a glimmer of emotion in his eyes before his usual chill returned. “I’m sorry.”

Pain and anger mixed together into one explosive cocktail. “I cannot believe this. One thing goes wrong, you get scared, and that’s it? You are such a coward, Hunter. Plain and simple. Not noble, not smart, you’re a coward that hides behind his big office and wads of cash. You might be fooling yourself, but you’re not fooling me!” I turned away.

I ignored the agony eating away at my heart as I opened the door and carried my suitcase into the hall. I knew he felt something for me. After last night, there was no doubt. But if he wasn’t willing to accept it, then I couldn’t wait around like a fool. I had to learn my lesson sometime.

It was a quiet trip back to San Francisco. Silent tears leaked down my face, but I didn’t apologize. I worked on Bruce’s project and tried to shut off, like Hunter was doing.

It wasn’t until the limo pulled up to my apartment building that Hunter spoke. “I don’t blame you for my father,” he said softly. He looked out of his window. “But I can’t do this, Olivia. There’s a reason I’m shut off. I don’t do love. I can’t do romance. Or forever. I just…can’t. I’m sorry.”

“We aren’t doing romance. We are fucking, right? And I’m not asking for forever, Hunter.”

“We aren’t fucking, Olivia. Not anymore. Not after last night, and truthfully, not since the first time. It never would’ve been fucking with you.” Hunter clasped his hands in his lap and looked down at the floor between his feet. “I can’t repeat what we did last night. I can’t give that much. I don’t want to trust in that way.”