Wicked: Billionaire Rules (Alpha Billionaire New Adult Romance) by Nikki Snow Read Free Book Online Page B

door behind him.

15
    I sat in the suite , stunned and confused for long moments. I couldn’t wrap my head around Leo’s behavior. He had been gentle and kind when we’d first met, but ever since he decided he wanted me, he’d been anything but.
    His sudden change in attitude scared me. It shouldn’t have. It should have been what I wanted. What girl doesn’t want to be shown tenderness? If he’d ordered me to come to his house, I would have known what to expect. I knew now that I craved his demands. But his tenderness, his care, it terrified me. Could I accept both in the same man?
    Ever since my stepfather had used me for sex, I’d been broken. I hadn’t had a single healthy relationship since. One loser-user after another had darkened my doorstep. I’d almost been prepared for Leo’s dominating behavior. I’d come to expect to be treated like a slut, even by the so called “nice guys” of the world. But now the dom was showing me kindness. It confused me and made my head hurt.
    With painful tightness in my temples, I climbed out of bed and pulled my clothes back on. My body felt numb and empty without Leo’s eyes on it or fingers inside of it. I longed to have him back, to tell me what to do, what to think. I hated that I did.
    I’d been on my own for three years now. I hadn’t had anyone to help me with anything. No family and barely any friends. Suddenly, this deadly gorgeous bilLeonaire wanted to take me, direct me, own me. Part of me truly wanted the release. I wanted to let go of all the responsibility of living independently.
    I pushed the thoughts away from my mind. It was ridiculous to think that. I was an independent person. I had my own life and I had things to take care of. Perhaps I’d go to Leo’s house tomorrow. Perhaps I wouldn’t. I couldn’t let my emotions decide something like that.
    I was too broken to think clearly right now or make rational choices. I needed to get away from here, get back to my normal surroundings so I could remember who I really was. I gathered my purse and coat and went out into the hallway.
    Downstairs, I knocked on Clive’s office door. He answered from within for me to come inside. I pushed open the door to find him sitting behind his desk, pouring over a ledger.
    “Leo said to settle up with you,” I croaked. Part of me didn’t believe I’d ever get paid.
    “Yes. Ms. Glass. I have a check for you. Eight thousand dollars for both nights.”
    “Eight… thousand. I thought it was a thousand a night.”
    “You’ve gone… above and beyond,” he said, holding the check out to me. I took it and put it in my purse, shame washing over me for what I had done. I really was a whore now. I turned to go. “Ms. Glass, I want to warn you about Leo Cole.”
    I turned around and met his eyes. “Warn me?”
    “Leo has, let me just say, he has bad habits. He gets too involved. That leads to trouble.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He has a history here, with the girls.”
    “Tell me.”
    “I can’t say any more. Just be forewarned. Don’t let him take you off the property. I can’t protect you if you do.”
    “He invited me to his house.”
    “I hope you refused.”
    “I don’t know if I’ll go or not.”
    “If you do, I want you to know you are doing it completely separate from your role as an employee of Club Scarlet. Do you understand?”
    “Yes. Of course. But what happened with Leo? What did he do?”
    “I have work to do, Ms. Glass. Please let yourself out.”
    I huffed, stunned. He didn’t look at me again. I stormed out of the office and through the front room of the club. Outside in the cool night air, I panted, the breath heaving in and out of my lungs in a cloud. It was going to freeze soon, then I’d be really screwed without a car.
    I walked up the street to my truck and found it covered in tickets. I scooped them up and got inside the car, pushing the key in the ignition. I said a silent prayer and turned the key. The engine made a