The Gentleman Mentor(52)

The bathroom door opens and when I glance up to the mirror, I see Hale. He locks the bathroom door behind him. My heart pounds out a steady beat as I watch him move confidently toward me.

I dab my cheeks with the tissue and draw in a deep breath, trying to pull it together.

“Come here,” he whispers and folds me into his arms.

I don’t fight it; I don’t even hesitate. I just go to him, molding myself to his firm chest and letting him hold me. His scent washes over me—a mix of crisp cologne and male warmth—and I’m reminded of all the nights I spent in his arms. At his mercy. Obeying his commands.

A desperate sob escapes me, and I push him away. “I can’t do this right now.”

“Tell me what happened. Why are you in here crying? I figured you’d be in a cab on your way home by now.”

That would have been the smart choice. Instead, I went to find Kirby and ease his mind about my involvement with his roommate.

“You were right about Kirby. He’s a thoughtless asshole and he doesn’t deserve me.”

Hale’s mouth lifts in a sad smile.

“You knew that all along, didn’t you?”

He shrugs. “I had no way of knowing what would happen, but yeah, I had my assumptions.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have listened?”

He’s right. This was something I had to find out for myself.

He steps closer, tilting my chin up to meet his watchful gaze. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head slowly. “No. But I will be.” I’m stronger now than I was before. Even if I don’t feel strong in this moment, I know it’s true.

“Tell me how to fix this.” He brushes his thumb across my cheek, his eyes lingering on mine.

I open my mouth to tell him there’s nothing he can do, when he lowers his mouth and kisses me. Softly at first, but when my tongue meets his, his lips crash into mine, his hands landing on my hips, and he grips me tightly to him. He tastes of scotch and Hale, and it’s only been a handful of days, but God, how I missed him.

My attraction to this man is off the charts. I’m angry at him for concealing his identity all this time, and I know he doesn’t want to pursue anything real, but I can’t deny my body’s response.

He presses his hips closer, and I feel his huge cock hardening under his tuxedo slacks.

I groan into his mouth and press myself closer, wanting to feel every hard ridge of him.

He pushes me up against the wall and then his hands are under my dress, pulling my panties aside and sweeping his fingers across my wet center.

“Wait…” I say softly.

“What is it?”

“I don’t even know what to call you.”

“Call me Hale, just like you always have.”

His lips crash back into mine, and the intimacy of finally knowing his full name is intoxicating. One finger and then two thrust slowly inside me, and I cry out, weak from both the arousal and the confusion I feel.

“I can’t stay away from you, do you understand that?” he murmurs, pressing his hard cock into my belly while his fingers continue sliding in and out.

He knows my body so well that within minutes, I feel myself losing control. His show of dominance is overwhelming. Knowing that he’s unable to control the alpha side of him from coming out to play, I’m soaking wet and on the verge of orgasm almost immediately.

“Hale…” I whisper against his mouth.

I’m so close. He bites down on my lower lip and at the same time, presses his thumb to my clit. I come apart, violently, crying out and clutching him for support. He pulls his fingers from me and puts them in his mouth, sucking my juices from them.

“So fucking good,” he growls, bringing his mouth to mine again.

He’s devouring me, and I’m letting him. I feel his hands working between us, and the clang of his belt buckle as he releases his pants. I want him more than anything, but some part of my brain is screaming at me to stop this.

“It’s never been like this before,” he whispers.

My legs are shaky, and my brain feels like mud. I’m so confused. My feelings when I’m near him are intense, all consuming, and hot.

Just as I feel the hot flesh of his erection, something snaps into place. It’s always been about the sex between us. And look where that’s gotten me. My life is spinning out of control. I’ve been rejected by not one, but two men tonight. Kirby, who I’ve secretly harbored feelings for for years, and another who’s just recently stolen my heart but wants nothing to do with commitment or monogamy.

“S-stop,” I stutter, looking up into dark, stormy eyes burning with his arousal.

“We deserve this. This pleasure. This connection,” he says, stroking my cheek with his thumb.