Free The Exposé 4 by Roxy Sloane

remembering my panic. I shudder. “I
just hope they find who did it.”
    “What
do you mean?” Tasha’s forehead crinkles. “I thought
it was faulty wiring.”
    Shit.
    “Right,
that’s what I mean,” I quickly say. “The landlord
must have known, renting out a place like that.”
    “Well,
you deserve to relax.” Tasha gestures around. “Take a
soak in the tub, order up some food. Whatever you want!”
    But
the only thing I want is Dax.
    Suddenly,
the stress and loss of the past few days comes crashing down on me.
Before I can stop myself, I burst into tears.
    “Babe!”
Tasha sounds horrified. “It’s OK! What do you need? Miles
has a cabinet full of prescription meds. I can get you a Xanax!”
    “I
don’t need a Xanax,” I wail through the sobs. “I
just need Dax to forgive me!”
    “What?
You mean big Boss Man?”
    I nod
through my tears, and understanding washes over Tasha’s face.
    “Oh,
sweetie.” She puts a reassuring arm around me. “I’m
so sorry. And I wanna talk about this as much as you want, and give
you as much wine and ice cream as you want, but believe it or not I
have a callback audition this evening.” Tasha looks helplessly
at the clock on the wall. “I feel awful. Maybe I should just
stay with you?”
    “It’s
OK,” I sniffle. “I’m really proud of you. But you
need to go. I’ll be fine.”
    “Are
you sure?” Tasha looks so worried, I force myself to nod and
stop weeping.
    “Definitely.
I’ll have some wine, take a bath, and wallow in all the stupid
mistakes I’ve made. And meanwhile you’ll dazzle those
casting directors and when you get back you can tell me all about
it.” I smile weakly, but Tasha looks relieved.
    “At
least you have a plan.” She checks her phone. “Ok. I’m
gonna do it. I’ll be back later. Make yourself at home.”
    She
heads out to her audition, leaving me alone in another strange luxury
apartment. I’m glad she’s landed on her feet, but now I
feel more alone than ever.
    I
grab the wine and go run myself a bubble bath in the huge tub. I lean
back in the water, and try to figure out how everything got so messed
up.
    I’m
pretty sure it started the first time Dax laid me over the desk and
showed me what a real man could do with his hands...
    For a
moment, I let myself sink into blissful memories of Dax. How he
fucked me so deep, and those hands... gripping my hips, yanking me
back against him in perfect time...
    And
now I’m never going to feel him again.
    And
it’s not just the sex, as mind-blowing as it was. Dax is
different. He’s determined, ambitious, but loyal too. He pushed
back when I put my foot down.
    Fighting
with him was hot as hell. He respected me, challenged me, and tried
to protect me too.
    No
man’s ever done that for me. Not even close.
    Dammit .
    I
duck my head under the water, and try to wash away my tears. When I
surface, I hear the door buzzer going.
    I get
out and wrap myself in a robe. I wonder if Tasha ordered some food --
or if her audition went so badly she’s back early.
    But
when I look through the security hole in the door, I see Dax.

 

CHAPTER TEN
     
    DAX
     
    Zoe’s
mouth drops wide open as she stands in the doorway looking at me.
“Dax? What are you...I mean, how did you find me?”
    “I
called your roommate,” I answer stiffly. I came here to talk.
To give Zoe a chance to explain. But now she’s looking at me
with those blue eyes, her hair wet and dripping small rivulets down
her neck. Her body naked under that robe.
    Naked
and ready for me.
    “I’m
sorry,” Zoe stands back, letting me into the apartment. “I’m
so, so sorry. You have to believe, I didn’t write that story. I
wouldn’t—”
    “I
do believe you,” I cut her off. “That isn’t the
problem.”
    “What
is?” she whispers, tugging her robe closed. I catch a glimpse
of her glistening, naked breast, and fuck if all my sound logic
doesn’t get obliterated under the surge of lust.
    “You,”
I growl, reaching for