Watch Me (Private Listing #1)

“No, I don’t, Hunter. I never have. Please, just leave me alone.” Fuck, I’m not stronger than he is. My heart is pounding in my chest so hard I’m afraid it will burst out. Sweat rolls down my back and my arm trembles. I’m losing this battle.

Hunter’s smile isn’t soothing. It’s wicked and deceitful. “I’ll let you go for now, little bird. If you give me something.”

I feel the wall against my back before I realize he’s trapped me once again. The arm that held him away collapses as he pushes into me. My other hand goes to his chest to stop him, but I’m not strong enough. I turn my head to the side and press against his chest in a futile attempt to keep him away.

“Kiss me, Maddy. If you hate me so much, kiss me so I know there’s nothing here.” His tone is coaxing. His other hand reaches out and fists in my hair. Tight.

I bite down on my lip to keep from crying out. He’s close enough I could knee him in the junk, but that would only make him angrier next time. And the lies he would weave… a lover’s quarrel, no doubt.

“I’m not kissing you,” I hiss, low. “I’m not doing anything with you. We are not a thing. We will never be a thing. Leave me alone before you get me fired.”

His eyes light up. “Maybe I want to get you fired.”

Fuck, why did I say that? “I’ll never come to work for Taylor’s while you work there.”

His smile drops and his fist tightens in my hair, making my lips part on a gasp of pain. “Now why do you have to be that way, Maddy? After everything I’ve done for you.”

“You’ve done nothing for me except harass me from day one,” I bite out.

Footsteps ring out behind Hunter, and his grin grows. I struggle to get away from him.

“Let me go,” I grind out.

He leans in to my ear and whispers, “Never.”

He releases me. I stumble away, cowering from him. Hunter walks across the room as Cooper appears.

“Sorry, got lost,” Hunter says.

Cooper’s blue eyes bounce between the two of us. Straightening, I can still feel the heat of anger in my cheeks. I resist the urge to reach up and rub at my abused scalp.

When Cooper’s gaze narrows on me, I give him a weak smile to placate him. His eyes cut back to Hunter. The smile he gives Hunter doesn’t reach his eyes.

“As you can see, there’s only one way out.” Cooper gestures.

Hunter pins me with a glare before he struts out into the hallway. Cooper’s eyes soften as he looks at me. His gaze drops to the broken cup on the floor, and he frowns.

“Sorry, it fell.” I take a deep breath and force a smile again. What am I supposed to do? I could tell him what Hunter tried to do. Would they believe me? I took their offer for sex with four guys with no misgivings. Would they ask Hunter and believe whatever bullshit he spewed? Or would they worry maybe I cave to any Neanderthal that tries to get into my pants?

That I have no backbone of my own?

I didn’t cave to Hunter. I won’t. Ever.

Cooper turns and follows Hunter back into the office. I sag against the counter, taking deep breaths. I can’t be on that team for Taylor’s. In Hunter’s territory, he’d find a way to trap me where no one would be around to save me.

He wanted me to kiss him, but it wouldn’t prove anything. Even if I remained passive while he kissed me, I don’t think it would matter to him. He’d claim I want him, that I just won’t give in. I shudder.

Tears prick at the back of my eyes, but I refuse to cry. Blowing out a breath, I clean up the broken cup, taking my time finishing the rest of the chores in the break room before returning to my desk.

By the time I reemerge, Hunter and William are gone. Thankfully.

I go back into the conference room to clean everything up. The door shuts and I jump. My heart in my throat, I turn to confront whoever it is.

Cooper stands there with his hands up. “It’s just me.”

The tension seeps out of me, and I collapse into a chair. He walks over to the chair beside me and sits with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped between them.

“Are you okay?” His tone is gentle.