Page 33 of Submission

“The only reason Diana took this job was so that she could help pay her younger brother’s medical bills, and I’m pretty sure that this was the highest-paying job she’s ever had.”

I study the beautiful but complicated creature in front of me, wondering why it baffles me that despite everything she’s been through and still goes through, that she still manages to feel empathy for someone who was trying to ruin her. That kind of compassion is not part of my DNA.

“Kindness may just be your biggest weakness, Megan,” I tell her, hoping she comprehends what I’m saying as a warning.

She’s a part of my life now, and there’s no room for weakness in my world. I’ve learned that the hard way a million times over. Of course, look at me calling the damn kettle black.

Meganismy weakness.

“I know she doesn’t deserve it,” she mutters regretfully. “But I still feel bad.”

When I don’t say anything else in response, she looks up at me. The gleam in her doe-like eyes makes me narrow mine because I already know what she’s thinking.

“Absolutely not,” I say firmly.

“Oh, come on,” she pleads in a soft, beseeching voice that I’ve never heard her use before. “It’s not fair that nobody else has to pay the consequences of what they did today, but Diana does.”

Jesus, I’ve got to toughen this woman up.

“No.”

“Hunter.” She crosses the room toward me, and I give her a hard look.

Watching her limp over to me with bandages on her legs isn’t helping her case. All I can think about is the reason why she’s injured. Somebody pushed her through a goddamn table. If those brats had been anybody else, I would have gladly put at least one of them in the hospital and left another lying in the alleyway.

“Don’t even bother, Megan. It’s not happening. That server was complicit in a series of events designed to harm you tonight, and it looks like she succeeded,” I say, pointing to her injuries. “And what’s the deal? You were ready to knock her out fifteen minutes ago.”

“I know.” She locks the door and then seats herself carefully in my lap. My hands instinctively rise to steady her. “I wanted to hate her, but this isn’t about her. It’s about her little brother. I won’t be able to sleep at night if she can’t find another job.”

“Then you should sleep with me tonight,” I say seductively as my hand lowers to caress her ass. “I’m sure I can help with that.”

“Well, what about after tonight?” she adds flirtatiously. Her expression morphs into a pout. “Please, Hunter.”

It’s quite obvious that she’s trying to manipulate me, but I can’t help but enjoy the attempt.

“Stop it,” I tell her half-heartedly.

Her mouth settles on my cheek, close to my ear, and she presses a sweet kiss to it. “Stop what?”

I tighten my jaw, my voice holding a hint of warning, “Megan.”

“I know she can’t come back here, but I also know that you’re Hunter Middleton, and you have connections all over the city. You can find her another job.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Think about her poor brother. It’ll be a good deed.”

My dick swells as I allow her to continue to pepper my face with kisses. “I’m afraid that all the good deeds in the world won’t balance out my karma.”

“You don’t know that,” she whispers, stealing an arousing kiss from my lips, prompting me to actually consider her request. It’s stupid, I know, but clearly, Megan has been a bad influence on me.

“There is one place,” I finally relent. “There’s a chain of bars that I’ve recently invested in. The one I’m thinking about is kind of far from downtown, but I guess it would work.“

“That sounds perfect,” Megan says quickly.

“You think you’ve accomplished something,” I scowl at her, tightening my hold on her hips and pulling them forward. “But I don’t like this, Megan. I’m not pleased.”

“You seem pleased,” she teases as she motions her hips in circles on top of me.

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