Free Total Temptation by Alice Gaines Page B

she had a gaggle of lawyers, some she’d paid for by herself and others her father had hired. But the stepsons still had the upper hand, making her hide and look over her shoulder constantly. She didn’t have to. She had her own strength. She only had to build it up the same way she’d built her body—by exerting herself.
    â€œI am strong, aren’t I?”
    He caught her chin between thumb and forefinger. “You could be.”
    â€œI do need a bit more exercise, I think.”
    â€œI can help.”
    She hugged him. “You already have.”
    He pushed her away and looked into her face. “No, really. Want to find out how?”
    She studied him. He wore the same look that had jumped out to her in his picture. A challenge. He still had surprises for her, it seemed.
    â€œI can take whatever you can dish out,” she said.
    â€œGreat. Only it might be the other way around.”
    W HEN C ASSANDRA RETURNED to the suite, everything was in shadows. Bobby had closed all the drapes, and her eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim light in the bedroom. After waiting the five minutes he’d requested before leaving the gym, her imagination had run through the gamut of games they might play with each other’s bodies, but her fantasies had come up short compared to all the things he’d already done to her and for her. Dreams paled in comparison to reality as far as Bobby was concerned. Maybe now he had an erotic version of hide and seek in mind. Maybe something even more creative.
    â€œBobby?” she called softly.
    â€œOver here.” His voice came from the direction of the bed.
    She stepped farther inside the room and found him flat on his stomach in the middle of the mattress. Naked. In the dim light, the comforter had nearly swallowed him up, and she could have walked right past him without seeing him if he hadn’t spoken.
    â€œOkay,” she said. “What am I supposed to do?”
    â€œWhat do you want to do?”
    â€œIs this a game of twenty questions?” she asked.
    â€œWho says it’s a game?” he answered.
    That might not have been twenty questions, but the exchange had managed to make her head swim, nevertheless. Whatever they were playing obviously didn’t require clothing, and knowing Bobby, it involved sex. She laid her own clothes on a chair and shucked out of the shorts and top she’d borrowed for her work out. Then, nude, she climbed onto the bed beside him.
    He turned his head away from her but otherwise lay still, right where he’d been when she came in.
    â€œAre you not talking to me or something?” she asked.
    â€œWhy would you want to talk to someone like me?” he said.
    â€œWhat the hell?” This didn’t make any sense. They’d parted in good spirits. In fact, he’d seemed pleased with her, impressed with her strength. Then he’d given her a quick kiss and a wink before making her promise to wait before coming back to the suite.
    â€œIs that the filthiest language you know?” he said. “I thought I’d done a better job with you.”
    â€œAll right. What the fuck?”
    â€œYou have every right to be mad at me,” he said.
    â€œFor crissake, I’m not mad at you.” The fact that she was shouting didn’t help matters, but he was acting like an idiot. Where had all this negativity come from? “Why are you being this way?”
    â€œMaybe you’d better call the front desk and have them send up someone better.”
    â€œDamn it. I don’t want anyone else. I want you.” She climbed off the bed and paced for a while. “There isn’t anyone better.”
    â€œI’m a piece of shit, and you know it.”
    â€œStop it, Bobby!” Now she really was shouting. “I don’t like it.”
    â€œThen do something about it.”
    â€œWhat do you want me to do?” For the love of God. She’d be smashing