Chapter Nine

Disclosure

Tucker

Tucker directed her out of the elevator, assessing her responses as she took in the sapphire blue lobby. None of the décor had been his choice. He’d paid a ridiculously inflated price to a designer to come up with the concepts and another hefty sum to a team of decorators to produce them, but as he glanced around, he acknowledged how much he admired the work.

The colors were bold and decadent, and everything he’d wanted for a residence he hadn’t built by hand for himself. The place was the epitome of everything the cabin was not.

“This is nice.” Her lazy tone told him that she approved of the interior design as she lowered to remove her muddy boots and left them by the elevator.

“I’m glad you like it, little girl.” He dropped the bag to the floor and turned, locking the elevator doors with another press of his fingerprint. Removing his muddied footwear, he left them with the backpack and glanced at Ella. “Let’s get a drink, then I’ll show you where to find that hot running water.”

“Sounds good, sir.” Her eyes were wide as she took in the luxurious surroundings. “Show me where.”

Grasping her hand, he led her along the hallway. The space was lit by small chandeliers that cast a golden light over the lavish tables and bookcases. She gazed into the large, framed mirror in the middle of the corridor as they passed by, her eyes conveying her surprise at the sumptuous finish of the place.

“This is so different from the cabin.” She glanced back his way.

“It is.” He grinned, recalling how she’d referred to the wooden home that was so dear to him in the car. He wouldn’t let that transgression pass without repercussion. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten what you called my woodland sanctuary, little girl, because I haven’t.”

“You’re still on about that?” She rolled her eyes theatrically.

“You’re damn right I am.”

He considered tugging her to the ground then and there and tanning her tempting backside for her insolence, but he had to be practical. They were both dehydrated and needed to freshen up. There would be time to chastise her later, and when he seized that chance, she would pay for her rudeness.

“Well, I’m sorry that I upset you.” She threw her hands out in a conciliatory gesture. “I’m just saying the place had limited facilities.”

“Apology accepted.” He shook his head with a smile. “But don’t think that precludes you from punishment.”

The naughty gleam in her gaze assured him that she hoped it didn’t.

“As if I would, sir.” She gripped his hand. “But this place is just so different. It’s like two separate people own them.”

He steered her into the enormous open-plan kitchen. “I suppose, in some ways, they do,” he explained as he offered her a stool at the marble island. “This place, and the others I own, represent the old me.”

He paused as the mental image of that younger man burst into his head. Arrogant and snide, the youthful version of Tucker had believed he was infallible. He would never have believed the things that had happened to him since. Wandering to a nearby cabinet, he took two glasses from the shelf and switched on the cold-water faucet. He allowed the water to run over his fingers as the sneer of the man he’d once been faded in his mind.

“And the cabin?” she prompted from the island behind him as he filled both glasses and switched off the tap. “Is that the ‘new’ you, sir?”

“It was once.” He answered before he’d had time to really consider her question. “It brought me great solace for a long time.”

“Until me.” Her voice sounded glum. “I ruined the cabin for you, didn’t I?”

He twisted to look at her. “This isn’t your fault, little girl.” He didn’t know how she’d got the idea that she was to blame, but he wanted his response to her despondency to be clear. “None of this is down to you.”

Large green eyes met his as he placed the glasses down on the counter between them. She hadn’t asked for water, but that didn’t seem to be the pressing matter as he perched on the stool opposite her.

“Thank you.” She motioned to the glass.

“Drink,” he instructed, reaching for his own glass and sipping the water. “I’m sure you’ll prefer this.” His lips twitched. “It actually comes from a proper faucet.”

“I see that.” A beautiful bloom of heat erupted on her cheeks as she reached for her drink.

He watched her intently as she drained most of its contents.

“Ella.” Leaving his glass, he reached for her free hand. “I want to be explicit about this one point at least.”

“The water, sir?” Her facetious tone assured him that she was only joking, no doubt intentionally dodging his assertion.

“No.” He answered her sarcasm with calm. “The conversation before that. All the shit that’s happened is because of your father and me. It’s not on you.”

“I know, sir.” Her voice sounded tiny in the huge expanse of his kitchen.

“Do you?” He gripped the edge of the counter with his other hand. “Because I don’t want you carrying that burden around with you.”

“I know why I was there, Tucker.” A new ferocity burned in her gaze as she met his eyes. “I’m not confused about that, but…”

“But?”

He didn’t like the way she’d used his name, but the significance of the moment insisted he resist the urge to challenge her. He wanted to know what was really on her mind, and if she genuinely accepted no liability for the events that had led her to his cabin, then he’d take knowing whatever thoughts had taken its place.

“I am a little confused about the things that happened while I was there.” Her lips curled, her gaze flitting between his face and her glass.

“Well…” His heart raced a little faster at her sardonic smile. She was adorable, even if he wanted to spank all traces of sass out of her tone. “I feel the same way.”

“What did happen, sir?” Her expectant gaze and the increased pace of her breathing conveyed how important the question was to her.

“A lot happened, little girl.” He skimmed his digits over hers. “Things I suspect neither of us anticipated.”

That was one way of putting it. Tucker had taken Ella with an air of umbrage. She had been nothing but an inconvenience at the beginning, but it hadn’t taken long for her to become more. Within hours, she’d morphed into a lust-fueled fascination for him, and after a day or so, a new emotion had stirred, something he hadn’t expected to feel—the urge to protect her. However, the irony was if there was anyone Ella had needed shielding from during those hours, it was him.

The desire he felt was understandable. Ella was young and insanely beautiful. Any red-blooded man would want her. He hadn’t known how wonderful she was until she was there in front of him, but once he had her, he was always going to long to bed her. Even though she was there as part of a business arrangement. Even though she was patently too young for him and even though it was foolish to let sex get in the way of a transaction.

How can I resist her?

The newer emotions bubbling inside him were profound and unsettling. Why should he want to look after a woman he hardly knew, and why had he wanted to get to know her at all? Sex was one thing, but the yearning for more was something else. Even now, sitting there in his practically brand-new kitchen, he couldn’t explain why he’d brought her with him through the forest and back to the city. When Bennett had called saying he had Tucker’s money and wanted Ella back, Tucker had only been certain of one thing—he just had to keep her.

“Does this mean something?” She gestured between them. “This thing we’ve found.”

“I’d like to think so.” What was he saying? Tucker was smarter than this, wasn’t he? He was old enough to know better. Hell, he was old enough to be her father! “What do you think, little girl?”

“I do feel something when we’re together, sir.” The crease in her flawless skin deepened. “That’s why I didn’t try to stay behind in the forest.”

“I thought you hated the forest?” His tone was dry.

“Not hate.” Her features relaxed into a smile. “And yeah, I didn’t want to stay, but more than that, I knew I’d rather be with you…” Her voice trailed away as if she, too, could hardly believe the admission. “It’s why I still call you ‘sir.’” Her breathing had become ragged.

“I thought you did that because I commanded it.” His shaft thickened at the tantalizing prospect. Tucker had been fortunate enough to experience Ella’s fabulous body, and having her defer to him was the extraordinary cherry on top of her exceptionally sweet cake. He couldn’t fathom how he’d got so lucky.

“Maybe at first.” Her reply was breathy. “But not now.”

“Why do it then?” He wasn’t sure how he should feel about this latest admission.

“Because I want to.” She caught her lower lip between her white teeth. “Because it makes me hot to say it.”

“That’s good to know.” He encased his palm over hers. “Because it makes me hard when you say it.”

“Fuck, sir.” She heaved in a breath, her gaze darting to the place where his hand cradled hers before slowly returning to his face. “This is going to be complicated.”