Southern Hotshot (North Carolina Highlands 2)

I have so much to lose. My dream job. My reputation. My entire future.

Because here’s the reality of the situation: I have a hell of a lot more at risk than Samuel does. He has an ownership stake in the resort, for crying out loud. His brother’s the CEO. He’d have to do something pretty egregious to lose his position. But me? I’m new. No one really knows me, not yet anyway, so I’m vulnerable in ways Samuel will never be.

My orgasm fades, and the reality of what just went down sinks into my skin like a chill. I’m naked in Samuel Beauregard’s kitchen. Tit out and legs spread, his handsome head between them. Mouth slick with my arousal.

Looking down at him, I’m overcome by anger like I’ve never known.

“What is it?” he asks, his brow crinkling. “Emma, talk to me.”

My pulse thunders in my ears. I’m shaking. I’m needy. My body wants more, but I know better. I fucking know better.

I sit up. Tugging my bra over my breast, I look Samuel in the eyes. He has the nerve to appear concerned. Brows curved up, mouth curved down.

Longing rips through me. I want to believe him, to believe he cares, so very much. Today, I thought I saw a guy who cared. But clearly that was another front, another mask. Was he planning this all along?

Fuck him.

He reaches for me, but I flinch, pulling away.

His eyes go wide with confusion.

“Don’t,” I say, and I leap off the counter. Tugging up my leggings, I make a beeline for the front door.

I’m mortified by the sudden burn in my eyes. Keep it together. I have to keep it together until I’m safely out of this gorgeous hellhole. I will not let him see me cry. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

But Samuel is hot on my heels, footsteps heavy on the hardwood floors.

“Hey,” he says, reaching for my elbow. “Hey, look, whatever just happened, I’m sorry.”

I pull out of his grasp. “Stop pretending you give a shit.”

“Are you kidding? I just made you come. Of course I give a shit.”

We’re in the foyer now. He does this dip fake-out move thing and effortlessly overtakes me, putting himself between me and the door.

Athletes. Ugh.

“I’m not letting you leave until you tell me what’s wrong.”

“You know exactly what’s wrong.” I glare at him. “Step away, Beauregard. Now.”

“Please.” The pleading note in his voice gives me pause. He gestures to his impressive erection. “Look at me, Emma. I’m at your mercy here.”

No, I think. I’m at your mercy, and that’s the problem.

I reach for the doorknob, and he lets me. He steps aside, eyes following my every move, and I open the door.

“I really wish you wouldn’t leave like this,” he says.

“Why? Because you want to get off?”

His expression softens with hurt. “Because I know you don’t feel good about what just went down, and neither do I.”

Shaking my head, I scoff. “You take such pride in faking it. You’re good at pretending, Beauregard, I’ll give you that. Really, really good.”

“You really think I’m proud of that?”

“I think you don’t know who you are.” I meet his eyes one last time. “Who the fuck are you, Samuel?”

He looks stricken. He looks away, a muscle in his jaw clenching against his carefully trimmed scruff. “I don’t wanna be the kind of man who hurts you, I know that much.”

“Horseshit,” I say, throwing his earlier line back at him.

Before he can reply, I slip through the door and walk back to my cottage on unsteady legs. What the hell did I just do? I thought touching Samuel earlier today, and being touched by him, was inappropriate.

But I enjoyed it. I loved that Samuel didn’t fight me when I had my hand around his throat. That he let me tell him where and how I wanted him.

Stop. I can’t go down that path. This is my job, my future, my fucking career.

I cannot, under any circumstances, touch Samuel Beauregard again.

The only relationship I can have is one with Blue, especially while I’m proving myself here at the farm. But coming so hard with someone else’s hands on me makes me wish I could actually meet my cybersex partner.

I want his cock inside me, rather than just imagining how good it would feel.

What if we did meet in person?

I recognize I’m not exactly in the best state of mind to be making big decisions about my romantic life, but I need something to look forward to.

Something to give me a sense of hope. Because my situation at work just started to feel pretty fucking hopeless.

Blue did say he’s in the area. We could meet at a local restaurant or something. Have drinks and get to know each other. Chances are, the chemistry we have online won’t translate to the world outside our computers. Still, it’s worth a shot, right? He does have the body of a god. And a beautiful cock. Samuel’s girthy, heavy dick felt exactly the way I imagined Blue’s would feel in my hand.