Hardwired Read online

  “He’s persistent. But that doesn’t really surprise me,” Alli said.

  “I can’t help but feel like I’m losing the war with him.” I picked at my pasta fra diavolo, torn by the way I felt around Blake. One minute I was cursing him out, and the next I had to harness every ounce of self-control not to give in to him.

  “Erica, I know you’re hyper-focused on the business right now, but if you’re attracted to him, and he’s obviously super attracted to you, why not just go for it?”

  “I’ve been to hell and back, Alli. You know this. The business is the first thing I’ve cared about in a long time. It’s kept me grounded, and if I screw this up because I can’t get a handle on my hormones, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  While getting a more traditional job was a remote possibility, I refused to accept failure as an option. Sure, I periodically experienced the-sky-is-falling moments, but I always pulled through stronger, giving more of myself and pushing us further than we ever expected to be. Under normal circumstances, I could juggle casual sex and work or school, but this wasn’t one of those moments. I needed to stay focused or risk losing everything.

  “You’ve already proven yourself to him professionally. Do you really think he won’t respect you if you sleep with him?”

  “Maybe. It’s not a chance I’m willing to take.”

  Blake was unpredictable. He had been both devastating and extremely helpful to the cause, so I had no idea what to expect from him, especially if we complicated the relationship with sex.

  “When you play by those rules, Erica, you give them credence. Guys fuck around all the time, and no one thinks twice about it. Just because you’re a woman doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to a night of hot sex.”

  “Says the girl who rolled in at eight o’clock this morning.” I pointed my fork at her. “Seriously though, the business is more important to me than any fling right now.”

  Alli paused for moment. “Maybe Blake isn’t fling-material.”

  “I highly doubt that.”

  “Blake isn’t some asshole frat boy. Maybe you should give him a chance.”

  I winced. “You’re right, he’s an asshole billionaire. I’m not sure what’s worse.”

  Alli sagged her shoulders, a sadness reflecting in her eyes. We both knew what was worse.

  “So have you heard from Heath since… you know?” I asked, hoping to steer the subject away from Blake and my past.

  “Yeah, he texted me this morning.” A slow smile spread across her face.

  She was already smitten. Heaven help us all.

  “Thanks for the memories?” I joked, and we both laughed. “Do you think it’ll go anywhere?”

  “I’m not sure. He lives in New York, so who knows? We’re going to grab dinner tonight.” She looked up. “I mean, if you don’t mind. We can hang out if you really want to ditch Blake.”

  I knew she was lying, like any decent friend would.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Not surprisingly, Alli and I battled over my attire. We settled on a peach strapless high low dress, which we agreed was date appropriate but didn’t scream, “Let’s skip dessert.” I repurposed my nude pumps and fluffed my hair nervously in the mirror.

  Blake knocked on the door at eight o’clock on the dot.

  “Hi.” I held onto my clutch like a life preserver.

  “Erica.” A hint of a smirk curved his lips.

  He wore a simple white collared shirt rolled up at the sleeves and dark blue jeans. His normally wayward hair was smoothed carefully to the side, though it rebelled here and there in a way that was still sexy and fashionable. I’d spent the past several hours trying to predict what the night would bring, and now I couldn’t keep my thoughts remotely clean.

  After a few moments of shameless ogling, I found his gaze trained on me, a mirrored reflection of raw appreciation. A rush of emotion hit me—butterflies, carnal desire, and an unsettling premonition that I could be getting in way over my head with Blake Landon. The man was sexy, rich, and confident, and my hormones had absolutely no willpower in his presence.

  “Blake!” Alli joined me at the door, giving Blake the once-over. “You guys look so cute!”

  “We’re not going to the prom, Alli,” I mumbled, though it felt that way a little bit. Except the hottest boy in school was at my doorstep, and that didn’t seem quite right. Sure, I cleaned up nice and attracted my fair share of hot guys, but I’d taken myself off the market months ago to focus on work. I’d forgotten what it felt like to be physically appreciated like this. In fact, I wasn’t sure if anyone had ever really made me feel like this, and all Blake and I had done was kiss.

  Blake offered his arm to me and motioned for our retreat. I hooked mine in his, and he led us down the hall.

  “You kids have fun!” Alli called after us.

  “I’ll have her home by morning,” Blake said, winking back at her.

  I rolled my eyes, feeling my face heat at the idea of being with Blake all night. Was I really doing this?

  Once in the elevator, Blake hit the number forty-five, the highest number on the grid, and we began our ascent.

  Confused, I asked, “Where are we going?”

  “The top floor.”

  “What’s up there?”

  “My room, actually.”

  My earlier excitement wilted. “Subtle, Blake.” I yanked away and crossed my arms. Perfect gentleman, my foot. God, I’m so naïve.

  Blake laughed. “It’s not what you think. Trust me.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve given me no reason to trust you.”

  “I’ve heard that takes time, so maybe there’s hope yet.”

  The elevator doors opened, and he led me to the end of the long hallway where he slid his key to gain entrance to the room. I followed him in, awestruck by the sprawling suite that could only be described as a modest palace.

  We walked through an ornate entryway, and before us, a floor-to-ceiling wall of windows showcased the Las Vegas skyline. The sun had set moments earlier behind the silhouette of the barren mountains, imbuing the sky with gradients of gold and amber, while every major landmark on the manmade strip before us mimicked nature’s brilliance. A million little lights brought the night to life in this wild, addictive city.

  “I thought this might be a better view than the restaurant,” he said quietly.

  “It’s breathtaking.” My eyes scanned the horizon, thrilled by his choice. For the second time today, a giddy excitement bubbled inside me thanks to Blake. Still, I tempered my outward display, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of wowing me so easily.

  “I’m glad you think so.” He guided me toward our table for two by the windows.

  The two-story suite was draped in luxury and elegance. The motif featured warm washed-out tones among a variety of textures, from upholstered mohair walls to cool cream marble surfaces that contrasted with the sleek and tastefully integrated modern electronics.

  I coolly catalogued the suite’s amenities until a server delivered a champagne bucket from one of the adjoining rooms.

  “Madam?” The server offered up a chilled bottle of Cristal Rosé.

  “Please,” I replied.

  He expertly filled our flutes to the brim.

  “I took the liberty of ordering for us.” Blake tipped his glass to meet mine. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “I’ll let it slide,” I joked, but in truth, I was relieved. I couldn’t think straight around Blake let alone figure out what kind of food I could eat gracefully in his presence.

  “So, tell me more about Erica Hathaway.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “What do you do for fun?” The question was innocent enough but his eyes betrayed a darker meaning.

  My body clenched, my fingertips gripping the chair’s edge. My defenses were wearing dangerously thin around Blake. Why had I ever agreed to this? Well, I hadn’t, but I hadn’t exactly refused either. Regardless, here we were, and thus fa
r everyone was on their best behavior except my libido.

  “To be honest, not much, at least lately.”

  “So you’re a workaholic?”

  “You could say that.”

  “Well, we have that in common.” He leaned back into his chair and gazed out into the horizon.

  “It seems like you do well enough these days to take a more relaxed approach to life.”

  “My life is hardly a vacation, if that’s what you’re implying.”

  “I see no reason why it shouldn’t be.”

  “Then I suppose you don’t know me very well.”

  “Enlighten me,” I said. “A little bird told me you used to be a hacker.”

  Over the rim of my nearly empty champagne flute, a grimace flashed across his face, then disappeared.

  “You shouldn’t believe everything you read online.”

  “No?”

  The server brought our meals, two perfectly cooked rib eye steaks atop a bed of asparagus and sautéed mushrooms. My heart sang for a moment and I thanked the server, who disappeared as quickly as he’d arrived, leaving us alone once more.

  Famished from the intense day, I ate, enjoying each divine bite. “You aren’t interested in sharing your life story, I take it?”

  He paused before answering, intently focused on his meal and avoiding eye contact. “You’ve read the cliff notes already. What more is there to tell?”

  “How else will I know how to become insanely successful unless you tell me all your secrets?” I searched his eyes, wishing he would tell me more, something I couldn’t find online.

  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I developed banking software, sold it, and now I invest in other, mostly successful, ventures to kill time. Satisfied?”

  “Not really,” I said truthfully.

  “So how involved is Alli in your business?”

  I wanted to know more about Blake’s infamous history, but I decided to circle back to it later since it seemed to be a touchy subject, and he hadn’t really started grinding my gears yet.

  “She was my inspiration for the site actually. After three years I think I’ve finally completed my fashion education with her, even though she still insists on dressing me half the time. Anyway, now she does our marketing. She’s responsible for making the connections that have resulted in most of our paid accounts.”

  “You said her involvement was dependent on financing though.”

  “Alli’s parents are expecting her to get a job that pays more than we can right now, so she doesn’t have much choice until we get financing or grow more quickly. She’s been interviewing in New York, so I imagine that’s where she’ll end up eventually if things don’t work out here.”

  “How are you financing the site right now?”

  “Honestly?”

  He shook his head slightly. “You’re not pitching me. I’m just curious.”

  “We supplement the site income with my inheritance, which, thanks to all this wonderful education, is finally dwindling.”

  “I’m sure you’re not the first one to leverage your personal finances to follow a dream.”

  The champagne warmed me, a welcome relaxation in the presence of someone who had a habit of winding me up. He was being surprisingly sweet, though. At least when we weren’t talking about him.

  When we finished, Blake tossed his napkin on the table and topped off our glasses, emptying the pricey bottle of pink bubbly. He grabbed his glass, stood, and reached for my hand.

  “Come with me.”

  Tentatively, I accepted it, and he led us to the bright white leather couches at the other end of the expansive main area. I sat, and he took a seat next to me, sliding his knee alongside my leg to face me.

  “So you’ve graduated and now you’re talking to Max. What’s next?”

  “That’s the million dollar question.”

  “Or the two million dollar question, in this case,” he said.

  “Right. I don’t exactly know. I have to move out of the dorms next week, so I suppose I have to figure out my next move pretty quick.”

  “You strike me as someone who will make it work, one way or the other.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, fingering my dangle earring before dropping his hand onto the back of the couch.

  My inhaled a shaky breath, and I felt certain he’d noticed.

  “What do you want to do tonight?” he asked quietly, his gaze traveling over me.

  As if the gauge of his stare had direct control over my body temperature, I flushed, my skin becoming unbearably heated. I wasn’t so naïve to believe that the night wouldn’t end in Blake’s bed, but I was losing the battle a little faster than I’d planned to. I’d wanted other men before and had them. Detached and focused on the physical, I could almost always keep things on my own terms. But nothing about being with Blake felt detached now.

  “How about another drink?”

  He hesitated, his fingertips grazing my bare shoulder. “Sure, but if you can’t walk by the end of the night, I’d rather that be because of me.”

  Oh God. The visions that his words invoked overtook my better judgment. I closed my eyes a moment, silently coming to terms with where the night was taking me.

  “How about a tour then?” I said, barely able to utter the words.

  He raised his eyebrows. “Of Las Vegas?”

  I laughed. “How about we start with the suite.”

  His eyes darkened, an intense shade of green, traveling down my body and back to my eyes. His teeth caught his lip briefly before it released. “Is that what you want?”

  Something shifted in the air between us. My breath caught when I saw the hunger burning in his eyes. My need to have his hands and mouth on me had become singular and overpowering. I cared less about the repercussions of acting on that need with each passing moment.

  I nodded silently. He stood, and I rose with him as he caught my hand.

  “A tour it is, then.”

  One by one, he guided us through the massage rooms, butler pantries, and guest bathrooms. Every room’s opulence was as obscene as the price he must be paying for this place.

  We wandered up a gold-railed staircase to the second floor and into the master bedroom, another corner room with floor-to-ceiling windows. He stopped at the doorway. I left him there, lured toward the skyline I was still in awe of.

  “I could get used to this view.”

  “Me too,” he murmured.

  He was close enough to touch me now, but he didn’t, playing this gentleman promise out to a maddening degree maybe. In this tense middle ground, I waited for him, wanting him to set things in motion, but with each passing second the tension and the sexual energy between us became increasingly palpable.

  I let out the breath I had been holding in.

  Fuck it.

  Emboldened by the champagne, I found the sheer hem of my dress. Collecting the layers in a bunch, I pulled it over my head. I stood there, bare-chested, clad only in my panties, heels, and liquid confidence. The wall of glass cast my reflection back, and Blake came into view behind me. The heat of his body radiated onto mine, my skin already aflame, as much from my own self-consciousness as my growing need.

  He touched me then, his thumb blazing a trail down my spine to the waistline of my panties. He skirted the edge of the lace to my side where he seized my hip in a firm grasp, pulling us together suddenly. I gasped at the sudden contact, a thread of panic lacing the desire.

  My head rolled back onto his shoulder, and I could feel desire winning. His lips began a path of sweet torment, tasting and nibbling my over-sensitive skin from my ear down my shoulder. One hand flexed at my hip while the other caught my breast. My flesh overflowed from his grasp, and my nipple hardened under his touch. I was on fire for him. My senses inflamed, lust coursed through me until I was nearly blind with need.

  “Tell me what you want, Erica,” he murmured against my neck.

  My mind rambled a string of silent pleas. I arched sligh
tly, feeling his hard length straining against his jeans and into my backside. I covered his hands with my own and turned to face him, shameless and weak under his gaze. Now solidly green, his eyes smoldered, melting me from the inside out. Our bodies barely touched as I ran a hand down his chest, slowing above his belt. God, he felt amazing, hard and warm. I lifted on my toes and pressed a shaky kiss to his lips, my mouth opening to his.

  “I want you, Blake,” I whispered.

  He kissed me back eagerly. His body tensed with restraint, barely reined in. “You have no fucking idea how much I want you right now.”

  My knees weakened a little. He caught me up to him, stealing my breath with another urgent kiss. Reveling in the velvet strokes of his tongue, I blindly made my way down the buttons of his shirt, the hard curves of his abdomen tense beneath my fingers. I reached for the button of his jeans and unhooked it.

  “I want this too.” I smirked.

  Blake’s eyes widened a fraction. I gave his bottom lip a playful bite before kissing my way down his torso. His olive skin stretched tight over his muscles. Crisp brown hairs dusted across his chest and down the center of his well-defined abs.

  On my knees, I stared up at him. He was all I’d imagined the first night we’d met, and so much more. Beautiful. A prime specimen of a man.

  I traced the impressive outline of his erection before tugging his jeans and boxer briefs down just enough to release him. When he sprang free, I held him in my hands. His flesh was hot on my own, burning with primal need. He sucked in a sharp breath as I circled him gently.

  I was wet with anticipation, but as much as I ached for him, I needed to taste him first. To relish a moment of control over this man who’d had my whole world spinning in a matter of days.

  Starting shallow and soft, I worked him over. Then I took him farther and with more pressure. He cursed, driving his fingers through his hair. I pumped him with my hand while the other lay flat on his stomach, moving in time with his labored breaths.

  “Erica, Christ. Come here, wait—”

  He became inexorably harder, thicker. After a few deep strokes that hit the back of my throat, he cursed again, and I knew he was close.