Uncharted Territory (The Compass Series Book 3) by Tamsen Parker Read Free Book Online Page B

he handsome, but he exudes this raw confidence, arrogance, almost entitlement, that turns my insides to molten lava.
    It doesn’t help that his clothes are just what I like. I can’t get enough of men in suits. I’ve never liked bad boys. Screw the leather jackets and ripped jeans—give me the prep school guys who wear ties and blazers. I wish I could live in the 1940s when the suit was the default. But this…this is not a default. He’s wearing a charcoal grey suit, another spotless white shirt, and a green tie. The tie is a nice color on him, but I’m distracted from my sartorial reveries by the boys starting to speak.
    “Rey.” Hunter greets him coolly, extending a hand that Rey takes while responding. “Hunter.”
    They look to be having a stand-off. It entertains me, but I don’t dare show it. I’m on my very best behavior because I not only want to impress Hunter, I don’t want to embarrass Rey. After a few more seconds, they release their grip and Hunter eyes me. “I hear she’s coming along nicely.”
    “I think so.”
    “I wanted to offer my services. I know there are some elements of her training that you may be unable or at least…reluctant to provide yourself. I thought I might be able to help you out with that.”
    “That’s very considerate of you, but there’s nothing she needs that I can’t give her.” It’s true that Rey doesn’t like women. Well, not like that. He adores women otherwise, but so far his lack of interest hasn’t been a problem. Rey knows his way around a woman’s body better than any straight man I know. And Hunter’s insulted Rey, which I don’t take kindly to. “I don’t remember you finding any fault with Melissa.”
    “Was she one of yours?” Hunter’s tone is casual, although he knows the answer. “She turned out nicely. I didn’t mean to imply…”
    “I think you did, so why don’t we just cut to the chase. What do you want?”
    “You know what I want.”
    “Why don’t you spell it out for me, Hunter? I can be quite dim sometimes.”
    Hunter looks annoyed, but volunteers, “I want first crack at your little pet.”
    “And what makes you think I’d give it to you?”
    “She likes me.” Hunter shrugs, the casual gesture at odds with his formal dress but spot on with his easy imperiousness. “And you have a habit of spoiling your charges. You’ll let her have whoever she wants. I’d be good to her. You don’t have to worry about me being too rough, I can be civilized. When it suits me.”
    “And it suits you now?”
    “It does.”
    “Why?”
    “Look at her. I know you can’t entirely appreciate what you’ve got here, but really, even you can’t be oblivious to her charms.”
    “I’m fully aware of her charms. All of them.”
    A vein running alongside Hunter’s temple becomes more prominent. Dammit, Rey, I thought we were going for inflamed, not enraged. Please, please, please don’t screw this up for me. Please.
    Rey must have some kind of bizarre ESP because he looks contrite. “I’m sorry, that was rude. And distinctly unchivalrous. Give us a minute?”
    “Take all the time you need.” Hunter slides a hand into his pocket and walks to a wet bar in the corner, keeping his back to us although I don’t doubt he’ll be listening for every single syllable.
    “It’s up to you. Do you want to play?”
    “Is he safe?”
    “Meticulous. I promise you wouldn’t be here if he weren’t.”
    I hesitate. My next question has the potential for a great deal of awkwardness, but after everything I’ve talked about with Rey, done with Rey, I can’t imagine he’ll blink an eye.
    “Can you stay?”
    “Of course.”
    “That’s not weird?”
    “No. That’s part of the deal. You tell me what you need, and I give it to you. Anything you don’t want to do?”
    “I don’t want to have sex.”
    It’s prudish of me, but I can’t shake the notion it’s supposed to be special. Not that I’m a virgin, but I’d like for my first time