Page 37 of The Hookup Situation (Billionaire Situation #5)

His hips slam into mine, the sound of skin against skin filling the room. My legs wrap around his waist, pulling him deeper, and he growls, his hands gripping my hips, pounding into me harder, faster, until I’m screaming his name, over and over.

This orgasm is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I squirt all over his dick, feeling it everywhere.

“Damn, baby.” His voice is strained.

“Come deep inside me,” I beg.

He pumps into me, and I can feel his hot release flooding me. He collapses on top of me, his breath ragged, his body trembling.

He removes the blindfold, kisses me, smiles. “Are you okay?”

“I’m a changed woman,” I tell him.

He looks over his shoulder, and I see his phone on a tripod.

My mouth falls open. “I got blindfolded, tied up, devoured until I begged you to stop, and you recorded it? I’m so lucky.”

“Seems like you got a three-for-one deal,” he says. “Not many things left on your list now.”

He unties my hands, and I wrap my arms around him.

“Do you think we’ll be able to complete it?”

Nick laughs, then presses kisses to my neck and shoulders. “It’s my civic duty.”

When he pulls back and I meet his light-brown eyes, I’ve never felt more alive or wanted. I understand that he was creating one last perfect memory before our reality check, and it’s so damn thoughtful.

Nick kisses me one last time, then moves to the phone and turns it off.

“What are you doing to me?” I ask, sitting up.

“The same thing you’re doing to me,” he says over his shoulder.

We both know, but neither of us will say it until Halloween.

“Okay,” I say. Seeing his naked body against the fall colors in the backdrop has me taking pause. “Now I don’t want to leave.”

He laughs, but it’s tinged with sadness. “Shower? Pack? Then face the world? ”

“That’s a logical order.”

We move through our morning routine, but everything feels heavy.

“You okay?” Nick asks as I fold my clothes into my duffel.

“Just memorizing it all.”

“We can come back.”

I zip my bag. “This has been a fantasy, Nick. A beautiful, perfect fantasy. But none of this is real life.”

He crosses to me, cupping my face. “It can be.”

“I know. I just mean?—”

“I know what you mean. We’re safe here, but it’s not reality.” He kisses me. “Being alone with you is the only time we get without interruptions. Outside of our private walls, there are spotlights.”

“And you really don’t think it will ever stop?”

“Slow down? Yes. Stop completely? No. That’s an unrealistic expectation.”

My phone buzzes, pulling us away.

Mom

I just got a text from Blaire. Craig has been by the shop every day, asking about you. I contacted his mother. She told me to mind my own business.

I show Nick the text.

“Every day?” His jaw clenches. “That’s stalking.”

“He’s probably just?—”

“Jules, no. Stop making excuses for him. He’s waiting for you, and I don’t like it.”

“You’re right,” I admit.

I don’t understand how I could be with someone for three years and not even know who he was.

“We should document everything when we get back. Maybe talk to the police,” Nick suggests.

After we’re packed, I look around the cabin one last time. “Ready? ”

“No. You?”

“No. But let’s go anyway.”

We load the Range Rover with our bags, taking our time, like we’re both reluctant to leave.

“At least we can come back whenever,” Nick says, reading my mind. “I have this place until November.”

We drive down the mountain road in comfortable silence, NPR on the radio. The leaves are bright and colorful, fluttering in the light breeze. Everything feels peaceful, like the world is welcoming us back, like everything is going to be okay. I slightly relax until we turn onto Main Street.

“That car’s been behind us since the turnoff,” Nick says, checking his rearview mirror.

I look in the side mirror and see a black SUV with tinted windows. “Maybe they’re just?—”

Another car pulls out from a side road ahead of us, camera lens visible through the passenger window.

“Shit,” Nick mutters. “How did they know?”

A third car appears, boxing us in.

Nick checks the rearview mirror. His knuckles are white on the steering wheel.

“Maybe they’re just?—”

“Jules”—he glances at me—“that’s a telephoto lens hanging out the window.”

The black SUV speeds up, trying to get alongside us. Nick suddenly yanks the wheel right, taking a sharp turn onto Cedar Street. My hand grabs the door handle.

“Sorry,” he mutters, but his quick hockey reflexes are in full effect.

“Take the next left,” I say. “Then an immediate right onto that dirt road.”

“What dirt—” He sees it at the last second, tires squealing as we turn.

The SUV overshoots, brakes screeching .

“Now right again, behind the old Miller farm.”

Nick follows my directions without question. We weave through back roads only locals know—the shortcut to the quarry, the hidden turn by the creek, the unmarked road that connects to Mountain View.

“How many are still with us?” I ask, afraid to look back.

“Two … no, three.” He accelerates through a yellow light. “Hold on.”

He takes another hard turn, and I see one photographer’s car get stuck behind a delivery truck.

“Yes!” I cheer, then immediately feel ridiculous.

Nick’s jaw is clenched tight, but there’s something almost amused in his voice. “Where now?”

“Straight for two blocks, then left at the old church.”

We lose another car at a stop sign, but the black SUV is persistent.

“Shit, he’s calling others,” Nick says, seeing the driver on his phone.

My stomach drops. “They’re coordinating?”

“Welcome to my world.” He takes another sharp turn. “Actually, no. This is worse than usual.”

My phone pulls my attention away. I glance down at a text.

Blaire

Where are you?

Julie

I’m heading to my condo.

Blaire

DON’T. Media circus downtown. I just heard someone say you’re on Main Street.

Julie

How did they know?

Blaire

No idea. All these photographers have been huddling outside of the shop since this morning.

Julie

Ugh. We’re being chased by photographers. I’ll keep you updated.

Blaire

You’d BETTER!

“We can’t go to my place. Blaire said downtown is packed. Let’s go to Autumn’s. It’s the most private. I have the code to the gate.”

Nick takes the next turn, but two cars follow. He speeds up, taking random turns until we lose them, then heads up the mountain to Hollow Manor.

When we make it to the private gate, he punches in the code, and it jolts open. Nick drives through, stopping to make sure the metal snaps closed before taking off. Colorful leaves line the paved road that winds up to the mansion.

As soon as we park, Autumn opens the door and walks to the edge of the porch, wrapping the cardigan tighter around her thin frame.

“What the hell is happening? We’ve been watching the news.”

“The news?” My voice goes up an entire octave. “Why do they care?”

“You’re the talk of the town.”

Nick ushers me inside, his hand protective on my lower back.

Autumn practically drags us to the living room. “You both look shell-shocked. Zane, look who showed up!”

“Speak of the devils. You know you’re everywhere right now? All the social media sites, TMZ. Even the local news is giving updates.” He slides his laptop off the counter and moves toward us.

Hockey’s Playboy Returns with Small-Town Girlfrien d

Secret Love Nest Exposed: Banks and Barista’s Hidden Romance

Is Julie Pregnant? Close Sources Say Yes!

Hockey Star Dates a Barista to Repair His Reputation

“We were supposed to get married.” Ex Speaks Out!

I lean forward and click the link about Craig. He gave them photos of when we were together—some of which were intimate, showing us lying in bed together.

Nick’s jaw clenches as he reads it with me.

The article quotes Craig as saying he’s concerned for my well-being, and he hopes I know he’ll be there when this ends. He told the world I am a sweet girl and would never date a man like Nick. He’s calling it a midlife crisis and that I’m being brainwashed.

“That manipulative bastard.” I growl.

“There’s more,” Zane says quietly, swiping to another page. “It looks like he’s been posting old photos of you. Leaving captions like you were recently together.”

I see pictures from years ago but cropped and filtered to look current. We look happy and in love.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” I say.

Autumn immediately goes into mama-bear mode. “Okay, everyone, stop. Zane, close the laptop. Nick, sit down. You’re pacing like a caged animal. Jules, breathe.”

She disappears into the kitchen and returns with tea and fat slices of pumpkin bread. It makes me smile, per usual.

“This is my fault,” Nick says, not touching anything. “I should have listened to Asher. Should have done the interview, controlled the narrative?—”

I move next to him on the couch. “This isn’t your fault. ”

“Isn’t it? Your life was normal before?—”

“My life was boring as hell before.” I take his hand. “And Craig was still a manipulative ass. This just gave him an excuse to show it.”

Autumn sits across from us. “The question is, how did they know you were coming back today? You didn’t tell anyone, right?”

“Just you guys and my parents,” I say.

“And Asher,” Nick adds. “But he wouldn’t?—”

“Someone’s been watching you,” Zane interrupts, pulling up security footage on his phone.

Nick’s phone rings, and he shows Zane the screen.

“Put him on speaker,” Zane says.

“Warning: he’s going to be an utter asshole,” Nick warns.

“This is an absolute shitstorm,” Asher barks. “This is exactly what I warned you about!”

“Nice to hear from you too,” Nick says dryly.

“Don’t. Just don’t. I told you almost a week ago to do the LadyLux interview, and you didn’t.

I also explained how rumors don’t just disappear.

You know all of this, Nick. So, pull your stubborn head out of your ass.

You don’t get to stay in your little love bubble and ignore reality, for fuck’s sake. ”

“Asher—”