The Chase by Lauren Hawkeye Read Free Book Online Page B

cruel. “Mr. Rock Star, who doesn’t have to do a damn thing by himself? Your security guards probably did all the work.”
    “You don’t know a damn thing about me, either.” Standing—and giving me a mouth-watering view of the body that makes men and women alike lose their minds—he holds out his fist for me to see.
    It’s swollen, bruised, cut.
    My mouth goes dry.
    “My security guards hauled him up to his room so he could sleep it off. But don’t lecture me about judging you when you’re doing the exact same thing to me.”
    He rounds the coffee table, coming closer. Standing right in front of me now, he bends over, runs his fingers over my temple, examining my head wound.
    I can feel the heat from his skin, smell the soap from his recent shower, and find myself getting light headed. Which is so incredibly stupid.
    He has said himself in interviews, ones I’ve read, that he’s only interested in dating men. This is his rock star superpower, this ability to seduce people. It’s in his freaking job description.
    No way am I going to let him see how he’s affecting me.
    “What were you doing at the hotel, anyway?” I scowl as he probes at my head, not jerking away from the lure of his touch like I want to. “And you still haven’t told me where we’re going. Miss Black is going to put your testicles in a jar and keep them on her desk.”
    I’m not really afraid of him—not entirely. What I don’t like is that all control has been taken away from me.
    “I booked a room at that hotel this afternoon.” The hand on my temple trails down my cheek, traces along the line of my jaw. I can’t stop myself from sucking in a deep breath, my head suddenly swimming. “And as far as Miss Black is concerned, I am currently your client. I’ve booked you for the rest of the week.”
    “What?” I have no idea what I’ve been expecting, but this sure isn’t it. He couldn’t have shocked me more if he’d barked and told me to call him Fido. “No. Miss Black would never send me off with someone without asking me first.”
    At least... I don’t think she would. But truthfully, everything since accepting this job has been a blur. I really don’t know what the woman will and won’t do.
    I expect him to smirk again, but the way his lips twist tells me he’s sorry for me. This makes me bristle. “Sorry , kitten, but I have more money than Jesus. And that woman may not whore her body out anymore, but she’s more than happy to whore yours for a big payday.”
    I can’t even put a name to half the emotions that start to riot through me. Betrayal, rage, and plain confusion.
    Not to mention the urge to pop him one right on his perfect Roman nose.
    “I want to call her. I want to leave.” My fingers dig into the arms of the chair again, and I feel the butter soft leather give way beneath my jagged nails. I don’t care. “She can’t just do that.”
    The hand on my jaw tightens, not enough to hurt, but enough to get my attention. Those incredible eyes blaze down into my own.
    “If you get out of the job with me, she’ll just book you with Thomas again, as soon as he asks. And he’ll ask. You’re a toy to him, Miss Daniels, a thing. A possession that slipped through his fingers.”
    He’s...
    He’s absolutely right. I hate it, but he’s right. When I decided to work for Miss Black, all potential clients stopped seeing me as a woman, a person.
    I’m just a thing. A thing to be bought and sold. Not so different, after all, from those boyfriends of mama’s who felt entitled to a taste of both generations.
    With no idea what to say, I remain silent.
    “You’ll stay with me for as long as I desire it. I can more than pay for the privilege of your... company. And you’re lucky to have that cushion, since I heard a lot of bad words on that phone call over the money Black is out because of last night.” Adam cocks his head, daring me to respond.
    My mouth opens to shoot off some smart assed remark, but for