Contracted: A Wife For The Bedroom

‘Well, the end of a relationship is always a good time for introspection—a time to look at needs and wants that may have been stifled, to work out what we really want, not just from a partner but from ourselves. What would your ideal relationship be, Hunter?’

‘As I said.’ He sounded just a touch irritated now. ‘I haven’t really given it much thought.’

‘Well now’s your chance!’

He stared at her for the longest time and Lily decided there and then that his name was very apt—he looked like a hunter, someone who chose his prey carefully then pounced, because those blue eyes on her were hypnotising in their effect. He was so utterly a predator that Lily felt the hackles on her back rise in defence as he eyed her thoughtfully.

‘I want to wake up with someone in the morning and actually want to hear what she has to say. Someone who embraces her feminine side but isn’t intimidated by my masculinity. I guess what I really want…’

‘Go on,’ Lily croaked, suffused suddenly with images that were surely inappropriate—his masculinity, his good looks, his raw sensuality were not only intimidating but incredibly thought-provoking, and trying to stay objective and focused as Hunter discussed his needs and wants was almost an impossible task.

‘An equal,’ Hunter finished, blinking at his own admission. He was getting quite good at this, he thought. ‘An equal, though not an identical half.’ He elaborated a touch.

‘That’s very perceptive,’ Lily said, running a tongue over dry lips and dragging her eyes away from his to address the group at large. ‘Hunter has made a very valid point. Equality in a relationship is vital for its success—both partners valuing the other’s contribution to it and embracing the other’s individuality. All too often, however, I hear people saying that they want a relationship as if it’s the solution to all their problems. The relationship that you need to nurture is the one with yourself. I believe first and foremost in self-love—’

‘I don’t have any problem with that,’ Hunter interrupted. ‘But as a last resort, of course, I prefer the real thing!’

Lily swung her head around, and she wasn’t the only one. The whole group gaped at Hunter, who didn’t look remotely abashed as he happily bought up the most delicate of delicate subjects.

‘When I refer to self-love…’ Lily cleared her throat, wishing that she’d bought her own polystyrene cup of water into the session ‘…I meant self-respect, actually liking yourself, knowing your own opinions, being at ease with your own company. Only when you’ve achieved that can you truly step into a relationship as an equal.’

‘Oh, that!’ Hunter dismissed.

By the time the rest of the group had introduced themselves, Hunter had dozed off, his head drooping forward slightly, those knowing eyes mercifully closed. Lily decided that rather than waking him, to just let him sleep off whatever excess he was suffering from. But as the meeting continued, though she tried to give her all to her clients, tried to listen intently as Jinty spoke at length of her hope for staying sober and finding a new partner, and Richie spoke shyly about his first date in a decade, Lily could sense her own distraction, her eyes constantly drawn to him. Even while asleep he unsettled her; even while quiet he interrupted her thought process at every turn.

What was he doing there?

CHAPTER TWO

‘HUNTER!’

The third and final call had absolutely no effect. All the plastic chairs had noisily been put away and yet nothing had woken him up.

For a second Lily actually considered walking away, throwing his jacket over him and leaving him for the cleaners to find in the morning. But integrity took over, and finally, almost scared to touch him, she tentatively reached out and shook his shoulder, feeling the solid mass of flesh beneath her fingers.

‘Hunter, the session ended fifteen minutes ago.’

‘Did it?’ Lazily he stretched and yawned, testing every inch of her patience as he languorously stood up and peered around the room, locating his jacket and rather unsteadily putting it on.

‘Is there any chance of a coffee?’

‘The urn’s been put away.’ Lily frowned at him. Gorgeous he may be, but those stunning eyes were clearly having trouble focusing. ‘Are you OK to drive?’ Lily checked; her natural assertion and training enabling her to deal confidently with this potentially difficult situation. ‘If you’ve been drinking, it might be wise to call a taxi.’

‘I don’t drink,’ Hunter answered.

‘At all?’

‘I tried it once and didn’t like it.’

‘You seem…’ Lily gave a small nervous swallow. If he hadn’t been drinking then he must have taken something—he was swaggering slightly as he walked.

‘If you have taken something then you really ought to think about—’

‘I’m not on drugs!’ He caught sight of her worried frown and actually smiled. ‘Unless you count an overdose of caffeine. I’m fine, just a bit jet-lagged.’

‘Jet-lagged?’

‘I flew in from New York this morning, or was it yesterday?’ he squinted down at his watch. ‘It’s still yesterday there.’

‘Have you slept since?’ Lily asked, worried now about him driving and feeling just a touch guilty for her earlier assumptions—he had every right to look a little the worse for wear.

‘Just then.’ He gestured to the room they’d left. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Tell me something,’ he asked suddenly. ‘Do you really believe that if you set your mind to something you can make it happen?’

‘To a point,’ Lily answered carefully, wondering where this was leading and realising that even though apparently asleep he’d taken in more of her session than she’d realised.

‘That anyone can better themselves.’

‘Of course.’ Lily answered immediately. ‘Unless, of course, you’re already perfect.’

Her stab at sarcasm just drew a lazy smile from him. ‘Oh, I’m far from perfect, and I certainly don’t wake up in the morning and kiss the mirror and tell myself I’m beautiful and worth it.’

He was teasing her and again Lily realised that he’d actually been listening all along.

‘I don’t actually kiss the mirror but, yes,’ Lily admitted, ‘I do encourage self-affirmation.’

‘Till true love comes along and then he can do it for you?’ He raised his eyebrows, mocking her with his words, but Lily stared right back and shook her head.

‘You have no idea what I believe, Hunter. I encourage self-love because I actually believe that the only relationship you can truly rely on is the one you have with yourself. A lot of people don’t want to hear it so I don’t say it. I hopefully get them to a point where they’re happy and confident in life and then the rest is up to them.’ She knew he didn’t quite get what she was saying, those knowing eyes narrowing slightly, a vertical crease in that perfect brow, and she told him her truth—revealed to him what she actually thought. ‘The truth is, I don’t actually believe in love.’

‘Really?’

‘Really.’ Lily nodded. ‘I believe in lust. I believe in romance. I believe in mutual respect. But I truly don’t believe there’s one love for everyone, one love that can last a lifetime.’

‘Amanda will be very disappointed,’ Hunter said.

‘Amanda’s not going to hear it from me,’ Lily retorted equally quickly, assuming the conversation was over and turning to head for the door. But Hunter lingered, the derisive note gone from his voice now.

‘What about someone with, say, disabilities?’ Hunter frowned. ‘I mean, suppose for instance that someone had been told they could never walk again. Are you saying that if they really set their mind to it…?’

‘I’m not offering miracles, Hunter,’ Lily answered softly, ending the verbal sparring, sensing for the first time genuine confusion behind his words, wondering if perhaps she was about to find out what really had bought Hunter there tonight. ‘If someone who’s been told they’ll never walk again is focusing solely on proving the doctors wrong, they’re missing out on a lot of other opportunities. Maybe it’s better to expend that energy on different goals…’

‘Give in, you mean?’

‘I’d prefer to call it acceptance.’

‘That’s how you make your living I guess.’ Hunter barbed response didn’t faze Lily this time—she knew his anger wasn’t aimed at her.

‘Just who are we talking about here, Hunter?’

‘No one.’ He flashed a brittle smile. ‘It’s just a hypothetical question. Right…’ For Hunter it was clearly conversation over. He held out several thousand dollars’ worth of the finest, most beautifully spun wool. ‘Do you want to borrow my jacket?’

‘Your jacket?’

‘It’s pouring outside,’ Hunter needlessly pointed out as they were having to raise there voices now to be heard above the driving rain that was bouncing off the roof.

‘I’ll be fine,’ Lily declined, smiling to herself at the thought of using such a beautiful garment as a temporary umbrella and filled with strange regret that once he stepped out into the night she’d never see him again, that whatever her group offered it wasn’t something he needed. Lily was filled with curiosity, too, as to why on earth he had come. He intrigued her. He was so utterly, utterly confident, so breathtakingly opinionated, and yet, on occasion—she looked at the proffered jacket—when Hunter wanted to be, he was disarmingly nice.

‘Take it,’ he offered again, his hand completely steady as he held it out to her, a curious half-smile on his face, but as she raised her hand to accept it suddenly everything changed. In that instant Lily knew, just knew that it was more than a jacket that Hunter was offering, knew from the way he was looking at her that the seemingly simple gesture had dangerous connotations and that stepping out into the night with him would be like stepping out with the devil himself. Brutally aware they were alone now, she felt like Snow White with the dwarfs all out at work, a tempting apple being thrust unexpectedly in her face. Telling herself she was crazy, that she was completely overreacting, she struggled to centre herself, to push away the ridiculous thoughts that were flooding her mind.

‘Lily?’ Softly he questioned her indecision but she couldn’t answer. His chest was at her eye level, the rate of his breathing matching her own, awareness, attraction swirling around her like a heavy fog, seeping into her clothes, her flesh, her mind.

She could smell them—not just the mingling scent of their colognes, but the perilous undertones beneath, the thick lusty yet indefinable smell of arousal, and it made her feel dizzy, confused and more than a little claustrophobic.

‘No!’ She didn’t even attempt politeness, instead snapping the word out, his unvoiced question meriting no well-mannered response.

‘Your choice.’ Hunter shrugged.

And it was surely the right one.

Watching as he stepped out into the night, Lily dragged a shaking hand up to her hair, staring around the room and blinking at the normality of it. Surely somehow the windows should be broken, tables and chairs should upended, that there should be some evidence of the seismic shift that that had just taken place.

What the hell had happened there? Lily tried to fathom, her breathing still coming out short and uneven, her heart still thumping loudly in her chest, every sense on high alert as if she’d just chased out an intruder. He’d offered her a jacket, for heaven’s sake, yet she felt as if they’d kissed, more than kissed…She felt as if he’d seen inside her, felt inside her.

Flicking off the lights and stepping out into the pelting rain, Lily was actually grateful for the sting of the wind and rain, the cool change incredibly welcome after such a scorching encounter. Locking up behind her, Lily made a mad dash across the car park, her suit clinging to her drenched body, her French roll uncoiling as she unlocked the car door and, shivering, jumped inside, dreaming of a bubble bath up to her neck to soothe away the tension of the day…

It wasn’t over yet!

The day that had started so badly with a phone call from her mortgage broker went from seriously bad to downright disastrous as her engine spluttered noisily, emanating a huge grating sound that seemed to get louder with each and every frantic turn of her key. A mechanic Lily wasn’t—truth be known she didn’t even know where the catch was to lift the bonnet—but even to Lily’s untrained ears the sound was perilous enough to tell her that the only journey her car was taking tonight was on the back of the vehicle rescue truck.

The passenger door opening momentarily panicked her—she’d thought the car park was empty and Lily wasn’t sure if it was the force of the rain and wind that caused her to catch her breath or the gorgeous but somewhat intimidating sight of Hunter climbing in beside her.

‘Most people knock on the window,’ Lily reprimanded.

‘I’m not like most people. ‘Problem?’ he added, stating the obvious for the second time since he’d climbed in the car beside her, because he really wasn’t like most people.

He disturbed her.

Spun her into a state of heightened nervousness, though not for her safety. An excellent judge of character, there was nothing in his personality that made Lily feel that her safety was compromised, her nervousness, her state of hyper-vigilance when he was around entirely due to the dangerous feelings he evoked.

‘Do you know anything about cars?’

‘I like silver ones.’ He gave a dry smile as Lily gritted her teeth. ‘I suppose I could do the macho thing and ask you to pop the bonnet and stand there staring for a few thoughtful moments—are you wearing stockings?’

‘What?’ Lily did a double-take. ‘What on earth has that got to do with anything?’

‘I saw it on a film, I think…’ He frowned for a moment. ‘Or did I read it? Anyway, it’s entirely irrelevant because I’d have no idea what to do even if you were wearing them—I haven’t a clue about cars.’

‘Well, thanks for your help.’ Lily gave a tight smile.

‘I haven’t given you any help yet,’ he pointed out. ‘Why don’t I give you a lift home? You can sort out the car in the morning.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ Lily said, reaching for her mobile phone. ‘I’ll ring the rescue service.’

‘They could be a while. Cars will be breaking down and skidding into each other all over the place tonight.’

‘Then it’s just as well I’m a patient person.’ Despite her curt refusal of his offer, Hunter made no move to go. In fact, he didn’t even shift himself as Lily was forced to lean over him and delve into her rather messy glove box and retrieve her car manual. He sat drumming his fingers on his leg as Lily rang the number and after an impossibly lengthy time of being placed on hold she gave in and punched in the number for a taxi.

‘No luck?’ Hunter asked needlessly, having listened to her rather exasperated one-sided conversation.

‘I’ve been placed in the queue.’

Which meant she was there for the duration. Staring out into the dark night, the rain lashing at her windscreen and no prospect of escape for the next couple of hours at best, Lily decided that if he offered again she’d let him take her home. After all, she’d been worried about him driving—this way she could make sure that he was OK and give him a quick coffee before he headed off to his house.

Happy with her decision, she waited expectantly, a frown forming on her face as Hunter opened the passenger door.

‘Well, good luck,’ he said. ‘I hope you’re not waiting too long.’

Damn! Lily cursed in her mind as he swung his legs out, yet still she was sure he was testing her, sure that he would offer again.

But clearly he wasn’t into games. Even as the thought formed she was privy to the rather gorgeous sight of him, lean and long-legged, briskly walking across to his car, and Lily knew if she didn’t do something she’d be stuck her for ages, knew that he’d left it to her to make the next move.

A man like Hunter didn’t need to offer his services twice.

Even as she threw her keys and phone in her bag and opened the car door, even as she locked her vehicle and dashed across to his sleek silver car, Lily knew the decision she’d made, though on the surface it appeared rational, was perhaps the most dangerous, illogical thing she’d done in her life. Thumbing a lift on the freeway would possibly be more sensible—better the devil you didn’t know perhaps. Yet she wanted to do this and was curiously elated that fate had intervened and her brief dalliance with this unforgettable man wasn’t yet over.

His headlights came on, illuminating her in the darkness, and for a second Lily froze, blinking into them, drenched and exposed. She could envision the glint of the triumphant smile that was surely gracing that surly, beautiful mouth. This was a man who liked to be in control.

Unlike Hunter, who’d so boldly climbed into her vehicle, Lily went to tap on his window, but already he’d opened it, staring up as if he’d been expecting her, his hair damp and flopping over his forehead, music wafting out of the car’s stereo, his hands loosely holding the leather-covered steering-wheel. Never had a car looked more inviting or more dangerous.

‘That lift you offered.’ Her teeth were chattering and it had nothing to do with the temperature. Despite the pelting rain, the night was still warm, the shiver running through her having everything to do with his eyes lazily drifting over her before finally deigning to meet hers. ‘If you still don’t mind…’ Still he stared, not saying anything, forcing her to ask him outright. ‘I’d love a lift home.’

‘Sure.’ With the tiniest motion of his head he gestured to the passenger side and Lily dashed around, her heart in her mouth as she opened the door and climbed in, feeling the soft leather on her damp legs, the warmth of his car stifling, the music too loud, his erotic scent stronger in the stuffy, luxurious confines, every sense bombarded with confusing messages as she momentarily entered the world of this intriguing man.

CHAPTER THREE

HUNTER had turned down the music as she’d given her address and Lily felt she had to fill the rather awkward silence that ensued.

‘I’m sorry if this is out of your way.’

‘It isn’t.’

‘It really is very kind of you…’ Her voice trailed off and Hunter did nothing to fill the painful silence, made absolutely no attempt at small talk. Truth be known, where she lived wasn’t particularly out of his way, she knew from the form he had filled in the suburb where he lived, but had she not been in the car no doubt he’d have taken the freeway and driven the rather more direct route to the city. Instead, he moved the car skilfully along the wet roads and took the longer but infinitely prettier beach-road route that would take them to her bayside apartment.

The view was divine. Staring out the window, Lily stared into the inky waters of the bay. Rolling clouds obliterated the moon, just angry spears of lightning illuminating the bay, the moored boats bobbing in the storm, the waves pounding the piers as his car silently gobbled up the distance. But the electric tension in the air outside was nothing compared to the energy in the car, the atmosphere so thick she had to drag the air into her lungs, the silence deafening as a million questions buzzed unvoiced between them. Never had her apartment complex looked so welcoming—normality soothing as the end to this strange encounter was finally in sight and Lily gestured for him to pull up. ‘This is where I live.’

‘Where do you park?’

And it sounded like a normal question, only it wasn’t. He should have indicated and pulled into the kerbside, perhaps waited for her to offer him a drink, but instead he was gliding the car into the driveway as his eyes searched for her private parking space. It felt incredibly invasive as he glided into it and pulled the handbrake and turned off the lights and ignition, just assuming that he was going to be asked in.

‘I could really murder that coffee.’ He flashed a beautiful smile as she gave a tense nod, her whole body rigid as he followed her through the concrete maze of the car park and into the entrance of the apartment complex. She fizzed with awareness, even the most normal of tasks, like walking, made infinitely more difficult, her feet slipping inside her saturated sandals. She was excruciatingly aware of her damp clothes clinging to her body as he casually strolled along beside her. As she turned the key and pushed open her door, Lily blinked in wonder at the untidy familiarity of her own apartment, as if somehow it should have prepared itself, should somehow have known who was coming home with her tonight.

Her dinner plate and mug was still on the coffee-table, a top and bra she had pulled out of her closet and promptly discarded when getting ready lay strewn over the back of her sofa, and a pile of magazines and newspapers lay lazily next to a mountain of bank papers.

‘Excuse the mess.’ She marched through to the kitchen, hoping he would follow so she could dash out in a couple of moments and do a frantic clean-up, but Hunter wasn’t going anywhere, except to the sofa. He sat down and stretched his long legs out, crossing them at the ankles. Her lacy pink bra hovered, apparently unnoticed a few inches from his cheekbone, as he picked up a magazine and idly thumbed through it.

‘Nice apartment.’ He glanced up briefly.

‘It is when it’s tidy,’ Lily answered.

‘I like it like this.’ He went to turn back to the magazine then changed his mind. ‘I usually get the more sanitised version of a woman’s life.’

‘Sorry?’

‘Immaculately tidy, fresh flowers in the vase, a few highbrow books on the coffee-table…’ Lily gave a shocked giggle of recognition as he described how her apartment would have looked had she known he was coming. ‘I prefer the real you.’ He held her eyes for an indecent amount of time and Lily could feel herself colouring under his scrutiny, his blatant flirting unnerving her. She wanted to go and get changed, put something warm and safe on, yet she couldn’t imagine heading to her bedroom while he was in her home. Thankfully he averted his eyes and turned back to the magazine he was reading as he dismissed her. ‘Three sugars, please,’ Hunter said, not even looking up as he relegated her to waitress. ‘And lots of cream.’

‘You’ll be lucky if I’ve got any milk,’ Lily muttered, heading off to the kitchen, flicking on the kettle and pulling out only one mug, choosing instead to pour herself a glass of wine from a bottle in the fridge. After the day she’d had—was still having—surely she deserved it.

A quick coffee and he was out of here, Lily decided, watching her shaking hands attempting to spoon coffee into a mug. Perfectly behaved he may have been since he’d set foot in her apartment, sitting quietly on her couch, reading, pleasant about the mess, even adding a ‘please’ when he’d requested his sickly sweet beverage, but she felt as if there were a wild animal in her lounge, a sleek black panther—infinitely beautiful yet dangerously unbridled, an untamed predator—just a few feet away.

Do not feed the animals. Staring into her rather bleak pantry, Lily managed a wry smile—she couldn’t if she wanted to.

Taking a deep, calming breath, Lily headed back to the lounge, but any attempt at composure vanished as she saw Hunter sitting on the sofa, calmly reading her financial papers and barely looking up as he offered his unwelcome opinion.

‘You can’t afford it.’

‘What the hell are you doing?’ Shaking with rage, Lily just managed to put the drinks down with out spilling them before ripping the papers out of his hand. ‘You don’t read people’s private documents!’

‘Why not?’ Hunter shrugged, completely unperturbed by her fury. ‘There’s no quicker way to get to know someone. Tell me, Lily, why on earth would you want to take on such a massive mortgage?’

‘That’s none of your business.’

‘On the contrary—money is my business.’

‘Oh, that’s right,’ Lily flared, ‘because you work on the stock market, because you’re featured in some magazines and appeared on television, you think you’re entitled to poke your nose into everyone’s private affairs?’