Page 180 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

ERIC

S omething's wrong with Dixie, and I know what it is. Her demeanor changed the moment Fiona walked into the room.

Fiona and Dixie are friends. Dixie hasn’t told anyone about Hunter and me, and now one of her closest friends knows. The cat is out of the bag, and Dixie is freaking out.

And it hurts. It feels like someone’s repeatedly punching my heart.

Last week, I would have asked myself why I kept falling for women who didn’t want to be with me. Last week, I would have asked myself what the fuck is wrong with me.

But I’m past that point now. I’ve fallen in love with Dixie Ketcham.

I want more than casual sex. I want a relationship.

She might not feel the same way. Judging from her reaction, she most likely doesn’t. But I’m still going to tell her how I feel. She’s the most important person in my life, and I refuse to give up without a fight.

Hunter comes up to me. He nods in the direction of the backyard, where Fiona and Dixie are deep in conversation. “What do you think the two of them are talking about?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I ask, a trace of bitterness seeping into my voice. “She’s getting ready to bolt.”

“And?” Hunter asks. “Would that bother you?”

“Yes, of course it would.” I give him a sidelong look. “It’s not casual for me. Not anymore.”

“Me neither,” he admits. He shuts his eyes for a moment, and then he nods decisively, as if he’s made up his mind about something. “I’m going to ask her to spend the night. You in?”

It’s a question about more than tonight. My answer comes without hesitation. “Yes.”

Hunter slips out to talk to Dixie. Xavier gets to his feet, slightly unsteady. Just as well he’s not driving. “You good there, buddy?”

“It’s not the Scotch,” he grumbles. “It’s the jetlag. My body doesn’t know if it’s coming or going.”

And it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future, as long as Layla lives in Thailand.

That reminds me. With everything going on, I’ve forgotten all about Kevin Hughes. “We have a lead,” I tell Xavier. “Dixie found it. Remember that charity auction you hosted in December? Zephyrus reimbursed Summit a hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the event space.”

“No, that can’t be right,” he says, immediately alert, a shark sensing blood. “It should have been comped.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Kevin Hughes called Summit’s accounting department and told them you’d approved the transaction.”

Xavier’s expression hardens. “And they took his word for it?”

“No. They checked with Pierre, who yelled at them for wasting his time.” Xavier looks stricken, and I pat his back. “If it makes you feel better, I really don’t think Valade was framing you. Hughes took advantage of his incompetence.”

“Not a lot, no. Hughes isn’t acting alone. Someone else is pulling the strings here.” His voice is grim. “I intend to find out who.” He glances at me. “Thank you, Eric.”

“It’s not me you should be thanking. It’s Dixie. I wouldn’t have got anywhere without her help. I know I’m biased here, but give her the damn job, Xavier. You’re not going to find a better Chief Operating Officer.”

“You might be biased?” There’s a trace of amusement in his voice. “Didn’t you tell me this was casual?”

He’s baiting me, and I refuse to bite. “Fuck off.”

He laughs shortly. “I’m assuming you’re busy tonight?” He doesn’t wait for me to reply. “I want to talk to Hughes tomorrow.”

“You’re driving to DC?”

“The chopper is faster.”

I shake my head wryly. Billionaires. They’re not like the rest of us mortals. I do okay—hell, I do a lot better than okay—but Xavier’s in a different league entirely. “Of course it is.”

“You know the specifics of what Kevin did,” he says. “I’d like you to come along. Meet me at the castle at ten?”

He’s being deliberately inscrutable. I’m ninety percent sure he’s going to make Dixie his new chief operating officer. No, higher than that. Ninety-nine percent. I could ask him outright what he’s planning to do, but that’ll give him too much pleasure. “Eleven.”

Once everyone’s gone, Hunter firmly declines Dixie’s offer to help him tidy up. “I’ll deal with this in the morning,” he says. “I have better things to do tonight.”

“You do?” Her voice is falsely cheerful. “Things like what?”

I don’t want to do casual any longer. I want to be with you. For real. The words are right there, on the tip of my tongue.

But I don’t blurt them out, because she’s not ready to hear them. Not tonight. Her shoulders are tense, her body is stiff, and she’s clearly on edge.

I exchange a glance with Hunter. He sees it too; his jaw tightens.

The last time I tried to be in a serious relationship, it had ended disastrously. I really don’t want this to go the same way.

I don’t know if it’s the overnight stay that’s got her skittish or if it’s Fiona finding her here. I don’t know what it is, but I have a bad feeling that if I open my mouth and tell her how I feel, I’ll lose her.

Hunter seems to reach the same conclusion. “Have you come prepared with a fantasy, Dixie?” he murmurs. “What’s left on your list?”

She swallows. “Umm…”

“Anal sex.” My voice comes out harsher than I intend. It strikes me that once upon a time, at the very beginning of this thing, I’d tried to scare her away by asking her if she was interested in anal.

I hadn’t known her then. I’d thought she was a prude and a judgmental one at that, and attractive as she was, I wanted nothing to do with her.

That was before. I hadn’t realized then that she’d been hurt, and she’d had to build armor to protect herself. Now I know. This time, I’m not trying to chase her away. This time, though I’m doing a piss-poor job of it, I’m trying desperately to get her to stay.

Her lips curl up into a sly smile. “Are you trying to scare me, Eric? What if I told you I wanted it?” Her voice lowers to a breathy whisper that has my cock rock hard and aching for her. “What if I told you I wanted both of you inside me tonight?”

Hunter gets to his feet abruptly. “Bedroom,” he says, his voice strained. “Now.”

And so we do it, and it’s great. She’s hot and tight and wet, and when the head of my cock penetrates her tight ring, she gasps, and her eyes go very wide.

“Slower?” I ask through gritted teeth. Fuck me, this is good, and I’m struggling not to blow my load. “Too much? Do you want me to stop?”

“No. God, no.” Her fingernails dig into the mattress. “This is… oh wow. I didn’t think it would be…” She whimpers as Hunter’s thumb grazes over her clit. “Oh yes, please.” There’s a raw edge to her voice. “This is so intense. I didn’t realize… this is not what I thought this would feel like…”

She’s babbling. I love that she’s at a complete loss for words. I love that she can’t form a coherent thought. I can’t either. She scrambles my mind. I’ve had good sex with a lot of women, but great sex? Great sex involves feelings. It’s amazing with Dixie because I’m crazy about her.

And then we’re both in her, and she falls apart, and I do my best to hold on, but I’m not far behind, and neither is Hunter.

I come so hard that it takes several long minutes before I can trust myself to walk. I get off the bed with unsteady feet, make my way to the washroom to dispose of the condom, and splash some water on my face. Tell her now. Tell her how you feel about her.

Dixie’s still slumped on the bed when I get back. “I can’t move,” she groans. “I may never move again.”

“Keep talking,” Hunter tells her with a lazy grin. “You’re doing great things for my ego.” He yawns as he sits up. “I want to do this again and more, but I’m wiped.”

He’s not the only one. I’ve had a couple of drinks, and I’ve been working long hours.

I’m exhausted. I collapse back on the bed, wrapping my arm around Dixie and tugging her closer.

I’m about to blurt out that I’m crazy about her when Hunter returns from the washroom.

“This is a queen-sized mattress,” he says with a wry smile.

“It’s fine for me, but it’s snug for the three of us.

” He gets into bed and turns out his reading light.

“If we’re going to make a habit of this, I’m going to get a bigger bed. ”

Dixie goes stiff in my arms.

So much for that. I guess I won’t be telling her anything tonight.

There’s no need to push, I tell myself. You don’t have to hurry. This is new for her and very much outside her comfort zone. Be patient.

It takes me a very long time to fall asleep.