23

AUDREY
I jumped at the sound of his voice. I wasn’t sure what he would be mad about. It’s not like I had to tell him wherever I went. But wasn’t he supposed to be back in Manhattan? And how long had he been in my room?
“I don’t know why I should explain to you,” I decided to just leave him be.
He caught my hand and gripped my wrist tight.
“Aw!”
“Don’t play with something you know you can’t win, and that’s not the answer I’m expecting,” he growled.
I knew I wouldn’t win, of course, not when I couldn’t understand his sudden behavior. The past few days have been a roller coaster for me. I needed a break from all of this.
I yanked my hand away and caressed the part where his grip lingered. “Why are you even here? I believe I asked first.”
He briefly shut his eyes, and then he stared back at me furiously, shaking his head. He rushed his fingers on his hair harshly, and then he marched away to fill a drink in his empty glass. I watched him drink it straight, then he poured another shot again.
“I had unfinished business with you,” he said. “But don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”
I crossed my arms. “That’s the case. I don’t think I owe you anything, Mr. Stark.”
He gulped another shot of the liquor and bellowed under his breath, then he dashed back towards me, almost closing the gap between us. The odor of alcohol was mixing with his pure male scent; it was warming up my senses and taking me back to tonight. I’d almost given in.
“It’s ‘Gabriel’ to you, Audrey,” he whispered sharply. His warm hands slid on my neck with his long fingers tracing my skin. “And I don’t intend on sharing you with anyone.”
I swallowed hard. My throat was dry, and his words alone sent shivers down my spine, though I wasn’t utterly sure if we were on the same page. Did he mean because I was outside with a friend?
“I was with a friend.”
He hummed, adhering his forehead to mine. “I know. Charles Scott, isn’t he?”
I looked up at him with wide eyes. “How did you know?”
“Miss Lind told me,” he whispered, and his voice rasped and cultured.
“When did you come back?” If he’d spoken to Chelsea, he would have been here earlier than I thought. My best friend was used to sleeping early.
“You didn’t answer my question yet.”
I caught his hand and tried to jerk it away, but he spun me around and pressed me against his body. I couldn’t help but moan.
“You had me waiting for you for fucking hours, Audrey.” He inclined my head carefully by gliding his hand to my jaw, and he bit my ear.
“Ahh…” I gasped. “Please…”
“Please what?” he murmured harshly, then he pressed small kisses on my shoulder up to the curve of my neck.
“Hmm.” I whimpered. “Stop this!”
“This is what you get for your unawareness.” He overpowered me with another slow and torturing touch as he slipped his hand under my shirt. But I moaned even louder this time when I felt his growing erection nudging on my ass.
“Mr. Stark…”
“It’s fucking Gabriel, Audrey. You should learn to use it by now, and I tend to want to hear you scream my name while I’m fucking you.”
He began sucking on my neck. I cried in pleasure.
Three months ago, I came into his company for an interview, and then I tried to bear working with his unrelenting ego and assholery. I looked up to him as a genius and a successful businessman at such a young age. But all of a sudden, we ended up in this luxurious suite talking about stubbornness and fucking.
One moment, he grabbed my thighs, lifted me off the ground, and pushed me to the wall with my legs wrapped around his waist. I became highly conscious of my body like my skin was ultrasensitive. He stared deeply into my eyes.
“You stayed late with someone else after I told you I wanted you.” He crashed his mouth onto mine again violently, then he pulled my lower lip with his teeth, careful not to hurt me this time.
I moaned between our lips. I finally gave in, boldly sinking my fingers into his back. I sucked on his tongue. He replied with a deep groan. He licked my mouth, nibbled on my lower lip, and stroked my tongue along his…
He parted away again.
No!
“Did you think that was good behavior?”
“I didn’t know you were here,” I said, avoiding his eyes.
“Is that the best excuse you can come up with? Hmmm?” He pressed his erection hard between my thighs, hitting my already sensitive clitoris.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“Isn’t it still obvious? I intend to fuck you thoroughly, and while I do, every part of your body belongs to me and me alone.” Slowly, he drew his hand into my panties, and he ran his finger inside, finding my clit. He teased my opening back and forth.
“Gabriel!”
A half-smile curved on his lips. “Good. That’s it, say my name.” He coaxed his mouth onto my neck. “You’re so ready… so wet for me…”
Without any warning, he pushed his finger inside me.
“Hmmm!” I screamed, but he covered my lips by kissing me again. His tongue danced inside mine. Inexplicably, the lust and the desire intensified. I closed my eyes as I relished this new feeling.
Undoubtedly, Gabriel Stark was a fine lover. A man that was brought down to earth to please a woman. It was as if he knew my body better than me.
My stomach churned with need as he moved his finger in and out of me. I’d never felt so good, so aroused in my life. My nipples hardened, and began poking through my bra.
What was happening to me?
Gabriel Stark was my boss, and he was touching my sensitive spot. I should be running, but why was I enjoying this? I shouldn’t be. I didn’t keep my virginity just to be devoured like this, not by a man who was made to sin. He would take it in a heartbeat and throw me away.
I’d promised myself that after the day Liam almost claimed me but still managed to stop and keep my purity, I wouldn’t let myself fall into another mistake. I hurt him, but he gave me a gift. I was supposed to take care of it until I found the right person.
But with Gabriel, it was only fucking… not making love.
I trembled against my boss. “Please. You can’t… Please don’t hurt me.” Beads of tears were already forming in my eyes.
His muscles suddenly tensed up. He frowned hard and suddenly stopped.
“Please, Mr. Stark,” I sobbed.
However, it was so sweet and gentle that he put me down despite the sudden coldness that brushed my body. I was hyperventilating.
“Do you think I’m some barbarian who could hurt you?” he asked, sounding a little bit furious. I couldn’t tell who was more hurt between us by the sound of his voice.
“You were… You were going to take my virginity.”
He pushed back a few steps away. A moment of silence filled the air before he spoke.
“Of course, I know you’re a virgin,” he whispered incredulously. “God, and hurting you was never on my list.”
“Easy for you to say. You were going to fuck me…”
“I’m not going to fuck you, not tonight.” His voice turned cold again. I couldn’t look at his face, but I saw him walk to my bed and grab the sheets, and then he came back to wrap them around my shoulders. “But when I do, it is never about pain.”
I looked up at him. Wasn’t the first time supposed to be painful?
“I ought to please your body,” he continued, “like I would please mine with yours. You were never like any other woman I met, Miss Hopkins, and I knew that more than you ever know. Take a rest.”
He stepped back, but I pulled the hem of his shirt. “Are you leaving tomorrow?”
“Do you want me to leave?”
I didn’t know how to answer. A part of me wanted to, but half of me didn’t.
“I’m going to meet Delaine again tomorrow,” he said. “But I’m going back after that.”
“I’ll be here until Sunday.”
“Then let me see your face before I leave.” He brushed his thumb on my cheek. “I’m sorry if I shocked you. But don’t forget why I did so.”
I nodded. I let him go.
He kissed my forehead. “Good night, Audrey.”