Private Listing Tease Me, page 22
“What about the NDA?”
“I’ll make a note that I gave you permission.” Seth waits until I meet his eyes. “But the NDA doesn’t really apply anymore. The whole contract was a way to hold us apart. That’s done with. You’re ours, princess. We aren’t going anywhere and neither are you. We should discuss it with the others, but we should nullify both the contract and the NDA.”
I tip my head back to look into his eyes, and all I see is his trust and love in me shining back.
Chapter 152
A Meeting of Minds
Madison
Since Kayla is flying in to work here this week, we waited for her flight to arrive in the afternoon to talk. Sara, Hope, and I are sitting in an awkward silence when Blake lets Kayla into my room. Each of these women have a piece of my story, but none of them have the full picture.
As soon as the door closes, Sara stands and hugs Kayla. When they disengage, Kayla eyes me as I sit there. My heart pounds because I don’t want to lose the first friends I’ve had.
“Come on, Madison. We know you aren’t that shy. Get over here. You need a hug.” Kayla walks over to me, pulls me up, and hugs me tight. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you, honey.”
The tension seeps from my muscles and I hug her back, grateful she’s here. “Thank you.”
“Okay.” Kayla releases me and turns to Hope. “Hope?”
Hope smiles and holds up her hand in greeting. “Hi.”
Kayla shakes her head. “I’ll get a hug from you after we figure this shit out.”
She takes a seat and they all turn to me. I swallow hard. I’m wearing jeans and a t-shirt today with a sweatshirt over it. After the pictures they saw, I needed to feel bundled up.
The stalker revealed my life to these women. My mother just wanted to know if I was being safe. My parents didn’t receive a picture. Thank god. But they got a warning that I wasn’t being careful and that my bosses were taking advantage of me.
“You all know I have a stalker—”
“Who is a major asshole. Seriously, who sends out pics of a girl getting dick?” Kayla shakes her head. “Assholes, that’s who.”
The others nod, but I continue, “I’m not just dating Coop.”
I meet Sara’s eyes. “Or just Coop and Noah. We’re all together. The four of them and me.”
I look down at my hands, waiting for the chastising to begin. Telling me what a whore I am.
“Man.” Kayla breaks the silence. “Living the fucking dream. Literally.”
Sara snort laughs. I lift my gaze to Kayla and she smiles and winks at me.
“I knew Blake was fucking someone. I’m glad it’s you.” Kayla crosses her legs. “I get it though. If four really hot dudes were okay with me screwing all of their brains out, I’d be down.”
“That explains so much.” Hope sits forward. “There’ve been times I swear you had something going on with Blake or Seth, but I thought you and Noah were just really good friends. Wait, isn’t Noah dating Sara?”
Sara holds up her hands. “Nope. Just going out to cover for him dating Madison and to make my mom think I’m dating. Oh, and trying to make my brother’s best friend jealous.”
“Is it the hot Viking?” Kayla’s eyes twinkle as she practically vibrates on the chair in excitement. “Please tell me it’s the hot Viking.”
Sara blushes. “No, not Dante.”
“Then pass him my number, would you, because I could use some of that hot dominant energy about now.” Kayla gives a little shiver.
“What about Bea?” I ask, remembering Kayla’s girlfriend.
“We’re arguing about where to live. I want to move back here and she doesn’t.” Kayla pushes her hand through her dark hair. “Honestly, a relationship with one person is hard enough. I don’t envy you with four of them."
"We manage." I shrug. It hasn’t all been sexy times and rainbows.
“Okay, back to the asshole who’s trying to ruin you.” Kayla gestures for the conversation to move along.
“He sent those texts to you all and my parents.”
“The picture?” Sara looks horrified that my parents might have seen that picture. That would have been my reaction too.
“No. Just more warnings that my bosses are taking advantage of me.” I put my hands in my lap. “The stalker was at the benefit. They took a video of me and Coop in a secluded hallway.”
“I’m going to need to see that video—”
“Kayla!” Sara chastises.
“For informational purposes only.” Kayla arches an eyebrow with a smirk. “So when you were getting spit roasted, was the dick in your mouth Coop’s? You can blink twice to let me know.”
“Kay-la!” Sara rolls her eyes.
Laughter spills out of me. With all the bullshit happening in my life, Kayla is a breath of fresh air. Hope smiles.
Kayla sits back, satisfied, as Sara shakes her head.
“Okay, so you have a stalker and he knows you’re getting busy with your four bosses.” Kayla’s green eyes meet mine. “He’s got access to you. He’s either someone with money or on the extra staff for the event.”
“He has money. My old roommate—”
“The one that attacked you?” Hope leans forward.
I nod. “She took pictures for him. The police have the phone she used. We think. But it was broken and dead. We’re waiting to find out if anything is on it. She told her boyfriend it was her insurance policy.”
Sara’s mouth is open as she looks at me. “You were attacked before the benefit?”
I release a breath. “It’s why I moved in so early with the guys.”
“And got freaky.” Kayla grins.
“We actually were together that first week.” I swallow and cross my legs. “When I was hired, they offered me an arrangement.”
Sara’s eyes widen. “Like, really?”
“Yes, we have a contract and an NDA, which is why I couldn’t share before.” I smile apologetically at Hope.
“It’s okay. I just don’t understand why you said you were dating Coop.” Hope tucks her hair behind her ear. “Of all of them, he would be the least likely to date.”
“You saw him comforting me. And we were afraid the stalker had footage of Coop and me together in the file room.” My cheeks grow warm.
“Why would he—”
“The stalker sent me a video of me in the file room after someone turned out all the lights. But before that, Coop was there. We didn’t know how much the stalker might have seen or heard. Then Hope saw us hugging. It made sense for one of them to date me so they could keep me close and watch over me. Noah wanted to be that guy.” My heart still tears a little at how that hurt him unintentionally.
“Aw, Noah’s such a good guy.” Kayla puts her hand on my knee and shakes it. “You two probably look fantastic together. Was he the guy fucking you?”
My lips curve into a smile as my cheeks flush. “Honestly, I’m not sure which guys are in the picture. I haven’t really studied it.”
“Well, when you get around to it, let me know so if one of those dicks is my brother’s, I can put a sticker over it.” Kayla winks as she settles back in her chair.
“You could just delete the picture,” Hope says.
Kayla laughs.
“Okay, let me see if I have this straight.” Sara blows out a breath. “You start work here and the bosses all want to be with you. You get attacked by your roommate and her boyfriend?”
I nod and touch my neck, still feeling the bruises even though they’re long gone.
“Then you move in here. You fuck Coop in the file room and someone films you in the dark. Then Hope sees Coop hugging you and the video the stalker took might have included him, so you roll with it and bam, you and Cooper Graham are dating. Wait, engaged.”
Reflexively, I twist the ring on my finger. “Coop announced it at the benefit. Pretty sure he was getting back at Leighton.”
“Oh, what happened last night at dinner?” Hope looks from Sara to me.
Sara fills them in on all the details. By the end, Kayla is smirking.
“I think you should date Drew Young, Sara,” Kayla says.
Sara blushes and looks away. Maybe she should. If that guy she likes is never going to make a move, she should find someone who will.
“We’re waiting for the police to look at the evidence. With the videos, the dress, and the texts, we hope they can see he’s escalating and move the phone to a higher priority.” I sit back and stare at the black TV screen. It could all be over if Valerie kept a picture of the stalker on the phone.
“Wait, aren’t you breaking your NDA?” Kayla points out.
“Seth and I talked last night.” I look at each of them. “I trust all of you and he trusts me. The whole contract was to prevent us from feeling more for each other, but that failed. I love them and they love me.”
“Damn, living the dream.” Kayla shakes her head. “So what do we do next?”
“Not much we can do.” I tuck my feet under me on the couch. “We make sure the police have screenshots from your phones. They may access your history to see if they can determine where the text came from. Otherwise, we’re at a standstill.”
“Then I vote wine and a girly movie.” Sara heads to my refrigerator.
Hope reaches for the remote. “And not focusing on what must be an amazing sex life. And the fact I’m not getting any.”
Heat floods my face.
“Definitely not focusing on amazing sex. I’ve been dating her boyfriend for the last few weeks.” Sara shakes her head. “Pretty sure I could hook up with Drew Young though. He does seem open to fucking.”
She laughs and we join her. They’re still willing to be my friends. Relief slips through me.
“You know, I could go for a group thing. All girls?” Kayla looks at all of us half hopeful, half trying not to laugh.
“Maybe some other girls. I like dick.” Sara blows Kayla a kiss as she passes her a wineglass.
“You just haven’t seen my dick.” Kayla winks. “I can be as big and thick as you want.”
Hope laughs. “Oh shit, are you talking about strap-ons?”
“Strap-ons, dildos, vibrators. I got them all.”
“I’m going to have to go with Sara’s answer.” Hope blushes. “I like a man’s body. Hard and solid.”
“Whoa.” Sara holds up her hand to stop Kayla from talking about hard and solid things. “Wine first. It’s way too early in the day to discuss cocks without being a little tipsy.”
I relax into the corner of my couch with a glass of white wine and friends surrounding me. This right here is what I’ve always wanted. My guys are fucking icing on the cake, but friendship is so precious to me.
Hours later, after three bottles of wine, two movies, and laughing until my sides hurt, I’m walking the others across the lobby to let them out. Blake hovers in the background, letting me have this time with my friends but always protecting me.
“Okay, we all have the group text, but I want dinner one night this week.” Kayla looks around and then past us to Blake. “No dicks allowed!”
“Except silicone ones.” Hope giggles.
Kayla grins. “I’ll pull you over to the dark side yet.”
“But first,” Sara says, “we take over the business world. The four of us could give those guys a run for their money.”
“Hey, I like those guys.” I fake pout and turn to Blake. He takes a step forward, but I smile and wave him off. A little rush of desire races through me.
“Fine, but we’ll find something to conquer.” Sara weaves a little as she scrunches up her forehead, thinking. “Maybe I should graduate first.”
Kayla laughs. “Come on, let’s leave this one to her dicks.”
“We should go to my brother’s bar.” Hope holds up her hand as if remembering something and frowns. “Crap. It’s closed until later.”
“Then we’ll go later.” Sara loops her arm in Hope’s.
Hope smiles. “I think I’m still going to go check on Jason.”
“Want us to come with? I like brothers, just not mine.” Kayla flashes Hope a grin.
I don’t know about the others, but I’m definitely buzzed.
Hope shakes her head and hugs everyone. “Good luck, Madison. I’ll text you later. See you.”
She wanders out the door and toward her brother’s bar. Maybe someone should go with her?
Sara gives me a hug. “Someday we’re going to talk about how that works with all your guys.”
My face heats, flustering me. I can’t imagine telling anyone what the guys and I do. She pulls back and gives me a wink.
“My turn.” Kayla hugs me tight, grabbing my ass. When Blake clears his throat, I laugh.
“Kayla.” His deep voice echoes in the lobby.
Kayla giggles and releases me. “Stay strong.”
She holds her fist out for me to bump. When I do so, she snuggles up to Sara. “I guess we’ll have to stick together.”
“Bye, Madison.” Sara waves as they walk out the door.
I watch them through the glass and feel Blake move up behind me. He doesn’t touch me. He doesn’t draw me into his arms. But he’s there. Steady, solid.
“We should practice your self-defense moves.” He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Okay.” I still have a little buzz, but those flutters in my stomach remind me that I really enjoy Blake. We’re fucking with the others, but not just us. Yet. I need to hold that line. But I want to know how to defend myself when this stalker comes at me. No more letting my attacker have the upper hand.
“Maybe something to absorb some of the alcohol first?” Blake gives me an indulgent smile.
“That sounds good.” I follow him toward the elevator. I swear I’m forgetting something. Turning, I look out the glass front and see nothing on the street. The elevator dings and I step on.
Chapter 153
On the Same Page
Blake
It’s almost an hour before we’re heading down to the gym. I needed to make sure Madison was sober enough to learn the hold releases. When she meets me at the elevator, she’s changed into leggings and a tank top that show off her every curve.
I have on a t-shirt and sweatpants. It’s hard to miss her heated eyes as her gaze flows over me, lingering on my bulge. When she wets her lips, my cock twitches.
Reminding myself she’s not ready for one-on-one time with me yet, I usher her into the elevator. We’re talking, that’s the important thing.
“How’d it go with your friends?” I lean against the wall as we head down to the workout room. I know this is important to her, having friends. Even if one of them is my sister.
“Good.” She tucks a stray hair that escaped her braid behind her ear. Her blue eyes meet mine and my heart pounds. “They’re concerned about me, but I’m glad they know everything. It’s like a weight lifted off me.”
“It’s good that you don’t have to hide from them, tiger.”
Her gaze jumps to mine and then slides away. Fuck, is she nervous to be alone with me? Does she not trust me to hold back?
“I won’t jump you, Madison.”
She tips her face toward me, and I smirk.
“Except for training purposes.”
A smile comes over her and it’s like the world is bright again. I rub my chest where it aches at how much I love this woman.
“I hate how things are between us,” she says softly.
“Me too, love.” I want to take her into my arms and hold her through the threat of the stalker. Sending those texts to her friends and family definitely upped the stakes. If the two of us weren’t in this weird in-between, I would have kept her in my arms as long as I could.
This fear grows every day that we might not figure out who the stalker is before he does something to her. Keeping her locked inside isn’t healthy for her or us, but fuck, would it ease my mind if we locked her away with us twenty-four seven.
Bill is doing what he can to move us up the line, but there are always higher priorities in a police station. I hope the evidence we need is on that phone. Madison is right though. The conference room was bugged when we talked about retrieving the phone. The stalker may have known about it as well.
Even if he tampered with it, he’ll fuck up. He has to.
I can’t lose her.
The elevator doors open and we step into the workout room. I turn on the lights while Madison stretches on the mat. Having Noah down here as a buffer was good before, but now it’s just her and me.
Joining her on the mat, I warm up, knowing both of us might have bruises by the end of this. If Madison is alone and attacked, I need to know she can handle herself. I’d rather her not be alone. I plan to haunt her every step until we have the stalker behind bars.
“Okay.” I clap my hands. “Escaping a choke hold.”
She swallows and straightens, pulling her shoulders back. The determination on her face to work through this fear makes me proud.
“We’re going to walk through this step by step. Okay?” I step closer. “We’ll do it in slow motion over and over until you have the rhythm down. Then I’ll put on some protective gear so we can go full force.”
“Let’s do this.”
“First thing, when my hands touch your throat, take a deep breath to steady yourself. Then tuck your chin so I can’t put pressure on the front of your throat.” I put my hands on her throat with no pressure.
She inhales and tucks her chin down.
“Next, from the outside, grab the inside of my wrists.”
“Like this?” She rests her hands over my wrists.
“Yes, now you’re going to pull me toward you and knee or kick me anywhere. If you can aim for the groin or stomach, that would be best, but you can kick my shin too. You want me to bend toward you so you can push me off balance and escape.”
She gives me a nod.
“No contact these first few times. We’ll walk through it. Ready?”
