Page 128 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

We don’t go runningin Central Park as planned. Instead, we stay in and make love all day. I have my arms wrapped around Hercules and am trailing kisses across his shoulder blades. We’re so relaxed and close that I think the time has come to see if he knows anything about our families’ feud. I’ve been thinking about how to broach the subject as Lark Davenport, and I think I’ve got it.

“Hercules?” I say in a sweet voice.

He flips over to change positions. Now he’s holding me and fondling my breasts. Each stroke of his hands feels so divine. My chest flutters, and so does my flower.

“Yes, baby,” he says.

I almost don’t want to bring up the subject, but since I started, I might as well keep going. “I heard about your feud with the Groves. What’s that about?”

Hercules tenses up as he stops massaging my tits.Damn it.Maybe now isn’t the appropriate time. He’s silent. I wonder what I should say to lighten the mood again. But I’m lost for words.

Hercules

Is she really using sex to soften me up to extract information from me?

I knew the moment would come when I had to acknowledge that we let the fox into the henhouse. But not like this.

I reluctantly let go of her, even though I steal a peek at that sexy backside of hers. I buried my face in it early this morning, eating it and her clam. I was about to take her to the shower, clean us up, and make love to her, taste her, and bring her to climax multiple times. Nothing makes me harder than when her muscles tighten and she calls out my name.

She told me she loved me, though.

I sit on the edge of the bed, open the bottom drawer of my nightstand, and take out a fresh pair of pajamas. “I forgot. I have work to do today.” I put on my pajamas. “I’ll have someone take you home.”

“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

I quickly look back at her. She’s propped herself up, and all I want is to devour her round breasts.Look at me… damn it. I’m overly sexually attracted to this woman, and she’s not even telling me the truth.

I fight the urge to spread myself on top of her and stand up. “No. I’m going to be late.” I walk away from her.

“But, Hercules,” she calls.

I stop and turn, forcing my eyes to stay on her eyes—not her sexy body.

“What is it?” I ask, trying not to sound pissed—because I am angry at her for ruining the day I wanted us to have.

“Was it the question I asked you? Is that why you’re mad?”

“I have work to do, and I just remembered—that’s all. Feel free to take a shower or a bath. When you’re dressed, a driver will meet you in the main living room.”

After a moment of staring helplessly into my eyes, she nods. “Okay.”

It pains me to look away from her.

“Hercules?” she says in a soft, sweet voice.

I take a breath for strength before I turn to her again. “Yes?”

“Have a good day.”

I nod sharply, and even though I hate leaving her alone in my bed, I have to. I won’t kick the fox out of the henhouse, but I will keep my chickens safe.

I callthe concierge and have them send a driver up to my penthouse to have them take my guest home. Afterward, I trek to my office on the opposite side of my ten-thousand-square-foot penthouse. Each step is heavy. I don’t want to be away from Paisley, but we must part ways today. The jury is still out on whether I’ll start up with her again.

She mentioned an ex-boyfriend named Boyles. I think she was telling the truth about him. If Paisley decides to harm our company and say that she never assumed a fake identity, I need someone to confirm that Lark Davenport is indeed Paisley Grove. An ex-boyfriend would do the trick.

Nero, my cousin, has a talent for acquiring information on people. He’s a corporate raider. To be successful at it, he has to know the people whose company he’s getting ready to steal. Therefore, there’s no question of whom to call first. I use speed dial to contact him, and the line starts to ring.

“Herc, this early on a Sunday morning. Have you been struck by lightning or something?”