Bad Boy Alphas Collection Read online

  “Don’t worry this one doesn’t sound as uptight,” Ariana assured me. “I can screen her if you want, and if we have a Mrs. Tremblay 2.0, we can pass. We did good with the last one, so we can afford it.”

  I started making noises in the back of my throat as I debated if that was the right thing to do. It certainly wasn’t professional, but a person was allowed to have moments like that every now and again.

  “I’ll get her on the phone tomorrow and see if I can figure out what she wants then make a decision,” I said, finally.

  “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist the challenge.” Ariana hopped off the counter, handed me the tub of ice cream and sashayed towards the direction of her bedroom. “Enjoy your erotica while thinking of those two fine men.”

  “I’m not thinking of the two men,” I half whispered, half yelled.

  “Sure, sure.”

  “I hate you,” I scowled.

  “I love you too, Bianca.” She chuckled as she closed the door behind her.

  *****

  “She’s a huge Doctor Who fan,” My client admitted sheepishly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She was a petite blonde with freckles over her nose and brown eyes. Overall, I liked her. She seemed like the easygoing mom — the fun type that kids loved to be around.

  But I was still trying to figure her out.

  “Your ten-year-old is a Doctor Who fan?” I asked, surprise coloring my voice. “I didn’t know kids that age knew the show.”

  Wendy, my client, threw her head back and laughed. “I know, right? But her Dad and I are huge fans. It’s actually how we met. We’re both Whovians.”

  “Coincidentally, so am I,” I confided. “I think I know what to do with this.”

  She looked ecstatic when I said that. “Excellent, so when can I expect you at the house?”

  “Tomorrow at say noon?”

  “Perfect.”

  *****

  “I’m so sorry I’m late, Evan,” I apologized as I slid into the booth across from him and sighed. He was dressed in a polo shirt and a pair of jeans that suited him, and he looked mildly concern as he gave me a small smile.

  “That’s alright. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, work emergency.”

  I slid my jacket off and adjusted the straps on my top as I smiled up at him. “How was your day?”

  Tonight, I decided to wear a knee length flowing skirt, and a flowery top that complimented it. I knew I made the right decision when I saw Evan eye me appreciatively.

  “It was good. The corporate world is crazy.” He clasped his hands in front of him as he gave me an easy smile. “So, what would you like to order?”

  “I’m not sure what’s good here.”

  “If you’re a meat fan, the steak is really good,” he offered as he signaled the waiter.

  “That sounds good. Can you order for me while I go to the restroom?” I stood up and grabbed my purse.

  “Sure.”

  I gave him a quick smile as I squeezed in between the waiters and headed towards the restroom. What happened next seemed to be in slow motion. One minute, I was a few steps away from the restroom, and the next, a waiter tripped in front of me and spilled the contents of the plate all over the front of my blouse.

  “I’m so sorry, Miss,” he stammered apologetically as he stared in horror.

  I looked down in dismay. “It’s fine. These things happen.”

  The waiter began panicking as his head swiveled left then right, no doubt looking for his manager who would skin him alive if he knew this happened. I gave his shoulder a quick pat.

  “Don’t worry about it, seriously. No one needs to know.”

  I wasn’t going to get him in trouble because of my blouse. It was just a silly piece of fabric, and he was a person. Besides, waiters were the most underrated people in the world. It took real dignity to serve people and put up with the crap they had to put up with.

  He shot me a grateful look as he insisted on helping me out.

  I waved his comments away and headed towards the bathroom. I grimaced as I stared at the mirror. It wasn’t that bad, but I definitely couldn’t keep the top on. I had a crop top on underneath, but it would expose my midriff and my belly button piercing, which I wasn’t in the habit of doing, but I saw no other choice.

  It was either that or smell like spaghetti and meatballs for the rest of the night. I chucked my top off, pumped some soap into my hands and began to hand wash my top. Once I was satisfied the stain was at least partially gone, I switched on the dryer and began the laborious process of airing out the blouse.

  I had a sweater in the car which I could retrieve to make things better, and I would do that if I needed to do. In the meantime, it was a warm night, and I could easily handle wearing this.

  I was in the process of fixing my bra strap when the door swung open. I turned around, a protest already forming on my lips when it died out at the sight of who was in front of me.

  It was Hunter Donovan.

  Looking like sex on legs.

  Damn, he looked better than I remembered.

  And those sinuous lips were curved into a sexy smirk when he caught sight of me propped up on the counter.

  “What are you doing in here?” I demanded as I hoped off and hastily rearranged my skirt which had bunched up to my knees.

  “There’s only one bathroom, it’s unisex, and the door wasn’t locked,” he explained.

  Shoot.

  He was right. I thought I locked it, but in my haste, I must’ve assumed that I had.

  “I must’ve forgotten,” I mumbled as my arms fell limply to my side, and I shifted uncomfortably.

  “Nice crop top,” he commented. “Didn’t figure you for the type.”

  “Why? Because you have me all figured out?” I met his gaze head on, refusing to break eye contact first.

  “I’m usually good at reading people, and I thought I had you figured out, but I guess I was wrong.” He leaned against the door. “You are not the good girl you pretend to be.”

  “I beg your pardon?” I pushed as much disgust as I could into my voice.

  “The belly button piercing is my first clue, and so is the tramp stamp. Don’t give me that look. It was visible in the mirror when I walked in, so I couldn’t help but see it.”

  “I’m sure that stupid name was made up by guys who’d like to flatter themselves into thinking women would brand themselves there just for their pleasure,” I retorted, icily.

  “No one else would see it,” Hunter pointed out. “Why else would you get it there?”

  On the one hand, it did make sense.

  Not that I would admit that.

  “I got it there because it’s private, and I’m not the type to show off these things.” I wanted to tug on the shirt, but there was no chance of covering it up now.

  “I can see that, same with the belly piercing which suits you by the way,” he complimented.

  “What do you want, Hunter?” I demanded as I felt the tips of my ears turn red.

  “I can’t compliment a beautiful woman?” he asked, innocently.

  “Not when you insulted her job the last time you met her.”

  “Okay, I’ll admit I was out of line there, but so were you.”

  “What are you, five?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “It doesn’t matter who started it.”

  “Why? Because you were immature enough to insult me right back?”

  “Did you just call me immature?” My mouth fell open as I stared at him in outrage.

  He swore under his breath. “Shit, no, I didn’t mean that. God, you make me all tongue tied and that infuriates me.”

  I reeled back wearily. “Why would I make you tongue tied?”

  “Because you’re so damn beautiful, and you’re feisty as hell,” he responded.

  “Hunter I... we can’t do this. I’m here on a date.” I moved towards the door, and he immediately shifted backwards, but not before the scent of him hit me. S
pices and mint. It was a weakness, and I froze with my hand on the door as my heart pounded in my chest.

  “I think you feel it too,” Hunter whispered causing shivers to race up and down my spine.

  “Feel what?”

  “What’s happening between us.”

  I laughed shakily. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  “Then why haven’t you opened the door to get back to your date?”

  I cleared my throat. “I will.”

  I turned the doorknob, but nothing happened. I harrumphed as I yanked harder this time, but nothing still.

  “It won’t open,” I realized. “The door is stuck.”

  “Here, let me try.” He gently nudged me aside and threw all his weight into it, but nothing was happening.

  “I don’t suppose they’ll hear us if we yell,” I said, weakly.

  “We could try.”

  We both tried pounding and yelling, but we could hear the music vibrating and shaking the walls, so the chances that someone would hear us were slim.

  “I don’t suppose you have your phone on you.” He turned to face me, his eyes calculating as he weighed our options.

  I immediately shook my head. “I do, but my battery is dead, and my power bank is in the car.”

  “Alright, it’s okay. We’ll just wait until someone else needs to use the bathroom then they’ll get us out.”

  I leaned my back against the cool wall and pressed my hand to my forehead. “This is not my week.”

  “It happens,” he offered, sympathetically. “Well, I did come here to wash my hands, so I might as well do that.”

  He brushed past me, letting his hands linger near mine for a second before he pulled them away. I snatched my hand away as if I’d been zapped, but not before I caught the look on his face when I did. He knew he was affecting me, and he was affected by it too.

  I slid down the floor of the bathroom and leaned my head back.

  “So, if you don’t mind my asking, why are you wearing a crop top if you’re such a private person?”

  “A waiter spilled a plate over the front of my blouse, and I had this on underneath. I didn’t feel like smelling like spaghetti.”

  “And you’re not at all mad about that?”

  “I mean I’m a little bummed out because it’s a nice blouse, but it’s okay I’ll wash it once I get home.” I shrugged as I let my hair fall in front of my face.

  “Hmm, you are an interesting woman, Bianca Davenport,” Hunter admitted as his gaze raked over my face, studying me carefully.

  “Why is that?”

  “Most women I knew would’ve gone postal, and the date would be over then and there. Though I’m sure your date will appreciate the lack of clothing when you go back out.”

  “There is no lack of clothing,” I hissed, quietly as I tried to ignore the way my heart kept skipping beats. He was sitting next to me on the floor because there wasn’t anywhere else to sit, and we were so close, his knees were almost touching mine.

  “Trust me, there is.”

  His breath tickled the side of my neck when he turned to face me.

  “I know what you’re trying to do.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’re trying to make me forget about the fact that I have a date out there.”

  “A date who hasn’t noticed that you’ve been gone for that long, and no offense, but you don’t seem too concerned about the fact that you’re stuck in a restroom with a complete stranger.”

  I opened my mouth then shut it again.

  He had a good point.

  Evan was nice, but there really wasn’t a spark, and he seemed more interested in his music than in me. Still, he hadn’t done anything wrong and he was a complete gentleman, so I saw no reason not to give him a second chance.

  “I do care,” I said defensively. “Evan is nice.”

  “Hey, if you say so.”

  “Stop doing that.” I huffed in frustration. “Stop acting like you know everything there is to know about me. I know men like you.”

  “Men like me?” He arched an eyebrow, his voice dripping with acid. “Do elaborate.”

  Crap.

  I’d obviously hit a nerve.

  “Look, you’ve got the whole bad boy thing going for you, and I know some women are really into that, but I can’t go down that road again.”

  “I’m not asking you to date me, Bianca,” he pointed out, his tone defrosting just a little. “Would you stop overthinking it?”

  “You haven’t actually asked me anything.” I shoved my hair out of my face. “And I hardly know you.”

  “Exactly, so why make snap judgements? Is it because of the tats and the way I dress? You seem smarter than that, Bianca.”

  “Maybe I’m not. How would you know?”

  “Call it a hunch.”

  I turned my head to look at him, and we stared at each other for the longest time. Our lips were literally centimeters apart.

  “Bianca, just tell me you don’t feel it,” Hunter mouthed. “I can feel the way your body reacts to me, and the lukewarm way you just described your date tells me all I need to know.”

  “Which is what?” I kept my eyes fastened on his, though I desperately wanted to look away before I did something stupid.

  “That you want me.” Hunter ran his fingers over my arms causing goosebumps to break out. “And that’s okay. I want you too.”

  My breath hitched in my throat as he tilted his body, so it was facing me. “You’re so sure of that, are you?”

  He gave me a half smile. “Yes, I am, and I can prove it.”

  I craned my neck to the side. “Really? That’s awfully arrogant.”

  “No, just confident,” he countered. “I can make you feel really good without ever touching you with my hands. Would that be enough proof?”

  My heart sputtered inside my ribcage, and I’d be damned if I didn’t admit that a thrill of pleasure went through me at his words.

  I was more than intrigued.

  I was seriously turned on, and he hadn’t even done anything yet.

  I’d never felt this way about anyone since….

  Well ever actually.

  “Okay,” I agreed, surprising both myself and him.

  I knew that part of me should be ashamed that I was agreeing to this little experiment when I had a perfectly nice guy waiting on the other side of the door, just a few feet away, but I didn’t care about that right now.

  Just for the next few minutes, or however long we were in here, I could indulge.

  I didn’t have to want perfectly nice.

  No one would have to know.

  Except the two of us.

  And that didn’t really count, did it?

  Jesus, I couldn’t believe I actually said yes, but I wasn’t going to back down now. I wanted to know what it felt like before I said no.

  He eyed me curiously for a second before he clasped his hands behind his back. “I’m a man of my word.”

  I blinked owlishly as I nodded. He kept his eyes trained on my face as his mouth parted slightly, and his tongue darted out. Before I knew what his happening, his lips were on my neck. Immediately, almost without thinking, my head tilted to the side to give him better access.

  A part of me was stunned at the way my body was reacting to him. So eager, and, oh, so willing. It didn’t feel wrong though.

  He lightly ran his lips across my neck, and I held my breath carefully though I had no idea why. He already said he could prove his point without touching me.

  Was I more worried that he would, or afraid that he wouldn’t?

  He was already affecting me; had been from the moment I laid eyes on him. This little charade was hardly necessary, but we both seemed willing to carry on. His lips traveled from my neck to my earlobes, where he gently nibbled.

  “Hmm, you smell good,” he mumbled against my skin, and I could almost hear his nostrils flaring as he inhaled. I had on a floral scent today, freesias if I remember, and I co
uld tell by his body’s reaction that he liked it.

  “So, do you.” I allowed myself a rare moment where I enjoyed his smell even if I was holding myself unusually still. Every muscle in my body was screaming at me to touch him and enjoy this, but for some reason, I couldn’t.

  Once he was done nibbling on my earlobes, his mouth moved down the slope of my neck and rested above my breasts which were prominently showing now. My breath hitched in my throat as he parted his mouth and lightly blew on them.

  “No fair, you’re cheating,” I protested as my back struggled to arch itself despite the cramped space.

  “I haven’t used my hands,” he reminded me as he lifted them up over his head and wriggled his fingers. “I’m sticking to my side.”

  I looked down, and he was smiling up at me indulgently. “You know you don’t have to do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Sit so still. I have to keep my hands off, but that doesn’t mean you have to as well. You can unclench.”

  I laughed nervously. I hadn’t realized that my hands were clenched into fists until I uncurled them and noticed the crescent shaped marks on the inside.

  I kept my eyes on his face as I reached behind his neck and twined my fingers in his hair. It was smoother than I thought it would feel, and the ends curled slightly at the nape of his neck.

  He made a noise in the back of his throat when I did that, and his eyes fluttered closed.

  Interesting.

  So, he liked it when people played with the hair on the nape of his neck.

  I had no idea why this information interested me, but I could file it away for potential later use.

  “How am I doing so far?” he asked as his tongue darted out and licked my breast over my top, directly where my nipples where. A small sound escaped my throat as I bit down on my lip to keep from making too much of a fuss.

  Who was this guy?

  I was about to come apart, and he hadn’t even touched me.

  It was rapidly becoming clear that I was going to lose this bet. Not that I cared to admit that.

  I was going to hold out for as long as possible, but judging by his skill set, that wouldn’t be for very long.

  “Mmm-hmm,” I agreed as I threw my head backwards and pushed myself closer.