Promised

‘I’ve told you before, Miller Hart. You’ve happened to me.’

‘I don’t like this person. I like the girl who I—’

‘Then. You. Should. Have. Left. Me. Alone.’ I speak slowly and clearly, yanking yet more feeling from this apparently emotionless man. He’s barely containing himself. I’m not sure whether he wants to shout or cry.

We’re briefly interrupted when the waiter places a platter of ice and oysters on the table. He doesn’t speak or ask if we require anything else. He skulks off quickly and quietly, aware of the obvious tension, leaving me staring at the platter in disbelief.

‘Oysters,’ I breathe.

‘Yes, enjoy. I’m leaving,’ he says, clearly forcing his body to turn away from me.

‘I’m a paying client,’ I remind him, reaching for one of the shells and dislodging the meat with my fork.

He turns slowly back toward me. ‘You make me feel cheap.’

Good, I think to myself. Expensive suits and luxury living doesn’t make this acceptable. ‘And the other women don’t?’ I ask. ‘Should I have bought you a Rolex?’ I slowly raise the oyster to my lips and tip it down my throat, wiping the back of my hand across my mouth and holding his gaze while I lick my lips seductively.

‘Don’t push me, Livy.’

‘Fuck me,’ I mouth, leaning forward in my chair, getting a strange thrill from seeing him struggle to know what to do with me. He didn’t bargain on this when he set this up. I’m turning this around on him.

He takes a few moments to gather himself before leaning across the table. ‘You want me to f**k you?’ he asks, not bothered about his gentlemanly manners in the presence of nearby diners.

I manage to contain my recoil at his returned confidence, even if I don’t utter any words.

He leans in further, his face deadly serious, all hurt, anger and shock seeming to have disappeared. ‘I asked you a question. You know how I feel about repeating myself.’

For reasons I’ll probably never know, I don’t hesitate. ‘Yes.’ My voice is a breathy murmur and, despite fighting it, my body is flying into full-on responsive mode.

His eyes are burning through me. ‘Get up.’

Chapter 25

I stand immediately and wait for him to round the table and collect me, taking a firm grip of my neck and pushing me out of the restaurant urgently. When we hit the fresh evening air, I’m directed across the road towards a regal, grand hotel where I expect his car is parked, except we don’t head to the car park. The doorman opens the glass door and I’m pushed through, suddenly surrounded by exceptionally traditional decor, with a stone fountain in the centre of the foyer and old worn leather couches scattered everywhere. Character is bursting from every corner. It’s classically stately, like the Queen herself might appear at any moment.

Miller drops his hold of my neck. ‘Wait,’ he instructs shortly, approaching the reception area. He speaks quietly to the woman behind the large, curved counter for a few moments, before taking a key that’s quickly handed to him. He turns and cocks his head towards the stairs, but with his lack of hold on my neck, I’m feeling a little unstable. ‘Livy,’ he grinds, his impatience kicking me into action.

He leaves me free from his grip as we take the stairs, the tension bouncing between us almost unbearable, but I’m not sure whether it’s sexual tension or nervous tension.

It’s both.

I’m nervous now, while Miller is overflowing with sexual craving. He stares blankly forward, displaying nothing, which isn’t unusual, except now it’s making me uneasy. He’s shut down completely, and even though I’m sizzling with desire, I’m also a little apprehensive.

I’m reclaimed by his hold on my neck when we reach the fourth floor and I’m being guided down the extravagant corridor until he’s inserting a card into a door and pushing me into a room. I should be overwhelmed by the gigantic four-poster bed and the gushing luxury, but I’m too busy trying to balance my senses. I’m standing in the middle of the room, feeling exposed and vulnerable, while Miller looks poised and powerful.

He reaches up and starts unravelling his tie slowly. ‘Let’s see what a grand gets you with the notorious Miller Hart, shall we?’ His tone indicates complete detachment. ‘Strip, sweet girl.’ His endearment for me is rife with sarcasm.

I search everywhere for my earlier brashness, but I’m struggling to find it.

‘You’re hesitating, Livy. The women I f**k don’t waste time when they have me.’

His words tear at my heart a little, but also inject some courage and reignite my anger. I can’t let him see me wavering. I instigated this, but why I have is now forgotten. I firm up my movements and pull my dress from my body, letting it fall to the ground, the red material pooling at my feet.

‘No bra,’ he muses, shrugging his jacket off and unbuttoning his waistcoat. His eyes are dragging slowly down my body, drinking me in. ‘Take your knickers off.’ His commanding tone has been used plenty before, but the soft edge has long gone. I don’t want to be turned on by it. I don’t want the throb between my thighs to intensify. I don’t want to find the conceited arsehole before me attractive. Yet I can’t prevent my body from responding to him. I’m shaking with anticipation. I’m a foregone conclusion. Even now.

I slowly push my underwear down my thighs and step out, then kick my shoes off. I’m naked, and when I return my eyes to Miller and see he’s now bare-chested, I forget any reluctance, being blinded by the pure extravagance of his torso. There really are no words, but when his trouser and boxers are slowly removed, I find one.