Mistress to the Beast (4 page)

Eve Vaughn

emphasizing high cheek bones. He wondered how her dark tresses would look flowing around her shoulders, or arranged around her head against a pillow—in his bed.

His cock grew hard at the mere thought. Lila’s most arresting feature he’d determined, were a pair of large dark gold eyes framed by long thick lashes. She was a real beauty.

Hunter took another swig of his scotch as he remembered the look of horror on her face when he’d revealed his scars. As he’d suspected, Lila was just like the others. She’d talked a good game, but she didn’t have the nerve to back it up. Despite this being a business transaction, he should have known a woman who looked like her couldn’t possibly be attracted to him. In most cases, he would have brushed off her reaction and written her off, but for some reason, he couldn’t.

He should have sent Lila on her way the second she’d come to, but in the moment he’d caught her from falling, holding her in his arms, Hunter had realized it was something he wanted to experience over and over again. But still, his pride wouldn’t allow him to demand she follow through with her offer. Instead, he’d handed her his card and informed her she had twenty-four hours to contact him before the offer was taken off the table.

He wouldn’t hear from her, he was sure.

She may have been able to give her delectable body to him if he kept the scars hidden, but as long as they were out in the open, she couldn’t handle it. It figured.

Hunter couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted someone with the intensity that he felt for Lila, but he knew he’d have to get over it fast and get used to living a life of solitude. Maybe when the shopping center project was over, he’d resign from the company and sell his stocks. Going out in public was becoming more difficult each time.

“Mr. Jamison, you have a phone call,” his housekeeper, Mrs. Coates interrupted his thoughts.

He hadn’t heard it ring, not that it mattered. It was probably Thomas. “Tell Thomas I’ll call him later.”

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“It’s not Mr. Ruby. It’s a Miss Saunders. Would you like to speak to her or should I tell her you’re unavailable?”

Lila? Was this a courtesy call to tell him she had changed her mind? He set the decanter and his glass aside. “I’ll take it in here. Thank you.”

Mrs. Coates nodded and left the room. Hunter picked up the receiver and waited for his housekeeper to hang up the other line before speaking. “Lila. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?” He silently congratulated himself for sounding calm.

“You know.” She spoke in a hushed whisper as if someone was there with her.

“So what’s your answer?”

She took so long to reply, he thought the line had disconnected.

“Hello?”

A sigh greeted his ears. “Yes. My answer is yes—that is, if you still want me.”

She had no idea how much.

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It looked like Hunter had thought of everything, from hiring a private nurse for her father to ensuring the store would be taken care of properly in her absence. Lila had even taken a physical and STD tests at his insistence, verifying her clean bill of health. Lila had been on the pill since she was a teenager to regulate her cycle, but it had been humiliating to be asked whether she was on some type of birth control. As a show of good faith, he’d presented her his medical records to prove his vitality and disease-free status.

Hunter had told Lila he wanted her without any barriers between them.

She had to be crazy to go through with this. To actually be this man’s kept woman for the next few months was something that had kept her awake at night since she’d said yes. He’d wanted her to come as she was, with the clothes on her back he’d said, and nothing more other than what was necessary as everything else would be provided for her.

He’d even sent a car to pick her up and take her to his home. The hardest part in preparing to spend this time with him was coming up with an excuse to give her father for being away. Lila hated lying to him. He’d been so trusting when she told him she’d been offered a private nursing assignment.

In fact, her story seemed to make him happy, to see her venture out “and not be closed in with the old man” as he’d put it. Lila hadn’t been able to look him in the eye.

How could one tell their dad they were going to whore themselves out—after all, what she was doing was little better than prostitution.

Shivering as a pair of brilliant green eyes flashed through her mind, she was tempted to tell the driver to turn the car around and take her home. The words hovered on the tip of her tongue, but they wouldn’t come out. For the past few weeks, the amount of time 28

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Mistress to the Beast

Hunter had given her to change her mind, she’d fought desperately to come to terms with what she’d agreed to.

She’d have to let him touch and screw her in ways she’d let no other man do to her before. The odd thing was, the thought didn’t make her cringe as she felt it should have.

What was wrong with her? Did she look forward to being debased by him?

“Ma’am, we’re here.”

The cool burst of air hitting her skin signaled to Lila the rear passenger door was open. She’d been so lost in her musings, she hadn’t realized the car had stopped. The sudden urge to get out and run and keep running grabbed her momentarily. Once she entered Hunter Jamison’s home, there would be no turning back. Could she go through with this?

Clenching her fists at her sides, she closed her eyes and squeezed them tight, attempting to work up enough nerve to get out of the car.

“Ma’am, we’re here,” the driver repeated.

Lila nodded, opening her eyes. It wasn’t just a nightmare. Damn. “Okay. Thank you.” Taking a deep breath, she took the hand offered her. For the first time since the car had stopped she looked at surroundings. So this was where she’d be staying? To say the house—no the mansion—was large would have been an understatement. Lila had only seen something of its kind on those television shows which gave peeks into the opulent lives of celebrities. The large beige Georgian style manor with its imposing columns could have been considered a work of art in its beauty.

The estate gave her another reason to hate Hunter Jamison. Here he lived high on the hog while harassing working class people like her father and forcing them out of their livelihoods.

Squaring her shoulders, she allowed the driver to lead her up the pathway to a side entrance. When they entered, Lila couldn’t help but be awed by the grandness. She made a mental note not to touch anything while she was here because any of the treasures decorating this place would be far too dear for her to replace.

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A tall, slender woman with warm, sherry-colored eyes and iron gray hair approached, a half smile on her lips. “Welcome, Miss Saunders. I’m Maddie Coates. I take care of this house for Mr. Jamison and during your stay here, I’ll see to your needs.

My husband, Ernest, drove you here. He’ll also be on hand if I’m not available. There’s an intercom in every room so you’ll be able to contact us at anytime.”

Lila shook her head, nervous laughter trilling from her throat. “I won’t bother you at all hours of the night. And please, call me Lila. Must we be so formal?”

“If that’s your wish…Miss Lila. Please follow me.” The woman seemed nice enough, but Lila could tell she was a stickler for propriety. Sheesh, Lila hadn’t realized people like Mrs. Coates existed outside of television and books. She and her husband were faithful retainers to the core. But then again, none of what was happening to her seemed real.

Already, Lila felt grossly out of place in a pair of slacks and a blouse she’d always believed she looked nice in. But her surroundings were a jarring reminder that her clothes had come off the rack and not in one of those fancy boutiques where someone who was used to this set up shopped. Her jaw dropped when she saw the room she’d be staying in.

It was larger than all the rooms combined in the apartment she shared with her father.

“I hope this room is to your satisfaction, Miss Lila.”

She could only nod in response. The room would have been adequate for the Queen of England. “Yes…it’s very nice.”

“Your private bathroom is through that door.” Mrs. Coates pointed to a door at the far corner of the room. Then she walked to another section and opened a set of double doors. “This is your closet. You’ll find all your clothing in here and the dresser drawers.

I’ll leave you to freshen up and change into something for dinner, which will be served in a half hour. Mr. Jamison will be waiting for you in the dining room. Is there anything you require in the meantime?”

Lila was still trying to acclimate herself to the sheer luxury around her. “No, thank you.”

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Mrs. Coates hesitated at the door. “Mr. Jamison would like for you to choose something suitable to wear. He said you’d you know what he meant.” The distaste in the other woman’s tone brought heat to Lila’s cheeks.

It was one thing to deal with her shame privately, but to have someone judging her put things in a whole different ball court. “Umm, yes,” she murmured, not meeting the other woman’s eyes.

Once the door clicked shut behind the housekeeper, Lila was able to let her guard down. What was she getting herself into to by agreeing to this crazy deal? Living in his home, and being fed and clothed by him? Would he be a selfish lover, demanding all she had, taking while giving nothing back? Yes, that’s how it would be. A man who would steamroll over an entire neighborhood was probably not good in bed.

Not that it mattered. He could be Don Juan for all she cared. Lila was determined to not enjoy it. She tried to stave off the tremble that moved up her spine. She’d made this bargain with the devil. Now, she’d have to figure out how not to get burned.

***

Hunter gripped the stem of his wine goblet, swirling the burgundy contents inside.

What the hell was taking her so long? He knew the exact time she’d arrived—an hour ago. He’d left instructions with Mrs. Coates to escort Lila to the dining room a half hour after her arrival. He’d seen her get out of the car from his office window—saw how she’d looked at her surroundings with an air of uncertainty, touching something deep within him. Then he’d witnessed her lift that determined little chin of hers and stride into his house as proud as a queen.

Lila didn’t strike him as the type to back down from a challenge, which made him wonder why she hadn’t come downstairs to the dining room as he’d ordered. Had she lost her nerve? Hunter gritted his teeth, slamming the glass on the table, uncaring of the droplets of merlot splashing on the white lace tablecloth. He’d spent every single night since making this arrangement with her, lying awake, imagining his hands caressing her creamy chocolate body, her lush lips crushed beneath his. Then, he’d think about turning www.samhainpublishing.com 31

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her over and riding that voluptuous rump and asking himself how she’d respond to toys.

He tortured himself with questions of how things would be between them.

He supposed time would tell if only she would get her ass downstairs so he could lay down some ground rules. Glancing impatiently at the platinum Rolex adorning his wrist, Hunter decided he’d give her five more minutes before he stormed upstairs and dragged her down—by her hair, if he needed to.

The soft clicking of heels against the marble floor in the foyer alerted him to someone’s approach. Lila.

Folding his hands in front of him, he tried to project an air of nonchalance he didn’t feel. His pulse raced, and breath caught in his throat when she appeared.

Wearing a little black dress, which dipped in the front to reveal the top of her tempting cleavage and accentuated her curves to a tee, she stood proud and graceful. He could probably span her tiny waist with his hands. Lila wore her hair piled on top of her head and her face was bare of makeup save for a touch of gloss.

She was absolutely gorgeous. And late.

“You were supposed to be down here a half hour ago!” The words rushed from his mouth like an angry roar. It was a bit harsher than he’d intended. Hunter hadn’t meant to let on how eager he’d been for her to join him.

Lila jumped at his brutal rejoinder before standing even straighter and taking a seat at the foot of the formal dining room table. “I’m here now.” She replied so calmly, it raised his ire.

“You’re too far away. Come down here.”

Golden brown eyes narrowed as she raised her chin in defiance. “I prefer where I’m sitting, thank you.”

There could only be one reason why she wouldn’t want to be so close to him. Well, that was too damned bad. She’d have to accept him, scars and all. She’d already seen them and knew exactly what she was getting into. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten, but I call the shots around here. Not you. But seeing as how you’d like to test me, I’ll give you two 32

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options, you can either take the seat here,” he pointed to the table setting next to his, “or I’ll come get you. I don’t think you’d appreciate the experience.”

Lila went completely still, her gaze locking with his. For a moment he believed she’d stand her ground, but in an abrupt movement, she pushed her chair back, and stood, her lips tightened to a thin, angry line.

Disappointment at her reluctance to be close nagged at him. One of the first things that had struck him during their initial meeting was the way she’d seemed unaffected by his appearance. Oh, he’d seen that look of horror flash in her eyes upon his reveal, and of course she’d fainted, but after she’d come to it was as if she’d forgotten about them.

Could he have just imagined it? Was it simply wishful thinking on his part? Probably. He was a fool.

She was no different than anyone else. Too bad for her she’d have to deal with him for the next three months. Hunter had given up a great deal to give in to her demands, including hours with board members, executives, contractors and on top of that coming up with a feasible alternative to his previous plans. He’d be damned if he allowed her to treat him like a fucking nuisance.