According to Marvin, Hercules hadn’t been ridden in a while mainly because very few men would go near him. The only man capable of handling Hercules was Jason. The same Jason she had decided to avoid from now on. She recognized danger when she saw it and in this case it was danger she could feel. Physically.
Even now she could remember Jason mesmerizing her with his smile, seducing her with his kiss and making her groan over and over again. And there was the way his gaze had scanned over her body while in the elevator as they left his office after lunch, or the hot, lusty look he gave her when she got out of the truck at the appliance store. That look had her rushing off as if a pack of pit bulls were nipping at her heels.
And last but not least were Jason’s hands on her. Those big, strong hands had touched her in places that had made her pause for breath, had made sensations overtake her and had made her put her guard up in a way she didn’t feel safe in letting down.
Of course she’d known they were attracted to each other from the first, but she hadn’t expected that attraction to become so volatile and explosive. And she’d experienced all that from just one kiss. Heaven help them if they went beyond kissing.
If he continued to come around, if he continued to spend time with her in any way, they would be tempted to go beyond that. Today proved she was virtually putty in his hands and she didn’t want to think about what that could mean if it continued. She liked it but then she was threatened by it. She was just getting to feel free and the last thing she wanted to be was held in bondage by anything, especially by emotions she couldn’t quite understand. She wasn’t ready to become the other part of anyone. Jeez, she was just finding herself, enjoying her newfound independence. She didn’t want to give it up before experiencing it fully.
At that moment her cell phone went off and she rolled her eyes when she saw the caller was her mother. She pulled in a deep breath before saying, “Yes, Mother?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard from your attorney about that little stipulation we found out about in your trust fund. My mother was definitely smart to think of it.”
Bella frowned. “Yes, I heard all about it.” Of course Melissa Bostwick would take the time to call and gloat. And of course she wanted to make it seem that they had discovered the stipulation by accident when the truth was that they’d probably hired a team of attorneys to look for anything in the trust fund they could use against her to keep her in line. If they had their way she would be dependent on them for life.
“Good. Your father and I expect you to stop this non sense immediately and come home.”
“Sorry, Mom, but I am home.”
“No, you’re not, and if you continue with this foolishness you will be sorry. With no money coming in, what on earth will you do?”
“Get a job I guess.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m being serious. Sorry you can’t tell the difference.”
There was a pause and then her mother asked, “Why do you always want to have your way?”
“Because it’s my way to have. I’m twenty-five for heaven’s sake. You and Dad need to let me live my own life.”
“We will but not there, and Hugh’s been asking about you.”
“That’s nice. Is there anything else you wanted, Mom?”
“For you to stop being difficult.”
“If wanting to live my life the way I want is being difficult then get prepared for more difficult days ahead. Goodbye, Mom.”
Out of respect Bella didn’t hang up the phone until she heard her mother’s click. And when she did she clicked off and shook her head. Her parents were so sure they had her where they wanted her.
And that possibility bothered her more than anything.