Free Mine for Now - The Billionaire's Obsession #2 by J. S. Scott Page B

insecurities? Maybe he really doesn ’ t have any. Maybe he likes his life exactly as it is. Maybe you ’ re just a complete bonehead who can ’ t comprehend a billionaire playboy who can buy any woman he wants.
    Her thoughts grated, ground her down until she wondered if everything she had convinced herself was true about Simon was actually a big fat lie, a self-created falsehood, a man she only imagined.
    You don ’ t really believe that.
    “The problem is…I don’t really know anymore,” she whispered softly to herself, her voice trembling.
    Her illusions were shattered, and she had no idea what to believe in anymore. She had trusted Simon, had thought he was a decent but troubled man, and his actions left her confused, raw and completely devastated.
    She stared numbly at the lights that were blinking over the rolling water and wrapped her arms around her shivering body. How would she ever erase the memory of Simon kissing a blonde bombshell, a woman so perfect that it made Kara wonder what Simon had ever been doing with her?
    She blinked and a lone tear slid silently down her cheek. Most likely, she wouldn’t forget. The memory, the sense of betrayal, and the crushing pain were likely to hang around for quite some time.
    Lost in her thoughts, Kara stood on the dock like a shadow, unmoving, no longer feeling the chill , wishing that she never had to go back and face reality.
    She would. She had to. But she would avoid it as long as possible. 

Chapter 7  
    “Whatever my brother is giving you, I’ll give you more if you come to me when he’s finished with you.” The sultry male voice pierced the silence right next to her ear, startling her so badly that she would have toppled over the dock railing if a strong male hand hadn’t gripped her waist. “Whoa. Steady.”
    She whipped around to face the voice, already recognizing it as Sam’s. He crowded her, resting one hand on each side of her, keeping her from escape.
    “W-What did you say?” The man left her cold and she didn’t appreciate his familiarity.
    “I’ll pay. Whatever you want. However much you want.” His eyes were cold and she shuddered.
    Oh, God. She was going to be sick. Gul ping, she stared up at Sam’s diety- like appearance, barely able to believe that he was actually propositioning her.
    Like a harlot.
    Like a prostitute.
    Like a whore.
    Anger rose inside of her like a phoenix, climbing higher and high, stronger and stronger. She could barely see through the haze of red that clouded her vision as her body trembled.
    “Simon won’t mind,” Sam assured her as his hand moved to her bare shoulder.
    His comment resonated through her, making her snap. What the hell was with the Hudson men? Did they thin k they could buy any woman they wanted to fuck? She drew her hand back and let it fly…hard. It connected with his smirking face with a satisfying smack   that exploded in the near-silent evening, cracking through the peace of the night.
    “Maddie was right. You are a complete snake,” she hissed, her body shaking with rage.
    “Maddie? Maddie Reynolds?” Sam’s expression was complete astonishment and shock. She wasn’t sure if it was the slap or the mention of Maddie’s name, but she didn’t wait to find out.
    She pushed his arm out of the way and ran, deviating from the path to run across the well-manicured lawn to the front of the house.
    She tore down the driveway and ran until she found James waiting patiently in the Mercedes. Tearing the front door of the car open, she dove into the front seat. “Please take me home,” she choked out, tears clogging her throat and making her voice raspy. “Please.”
    “Ms. Kara. Are you all right?” She couldn’t see his face in the dark, but the concern in the driver’s voice was evident.
    “I’m not feeling well. I need to go home,” she stated, not able to keep a pleading note from her request.
    “Is there anything I can do?”
    “Yes. Take me home. I’ll be fine.”
    She