Whatever He Wants by Eve Vaughn

she screamed her orgasm.
“James!” She buried her face against his neck and clung to him.
            James wasn’t sure how long they held on to
each other but the moment he realized their arms were wrapped around each
other, he disentangled himself from her hold and rolled away. Noelle placed her
hand on his chest but he flinched away.
            “James?” He could hear the hurt in her
tone but it couldn’t be helped. He needed to establish how things would be
between them from the beginning before she got any ideas. An emotion he
couldn’t quite explain tweaked his heart but James refused to acknowledge it.
Noelle was no different from the others, and as soon she realized that the
smoother things would be. No matter how much he wanted to stay and hold her he
couldn’t allow himself the luxury. Noelle was already under his skin but he
refused to let her into his heart. He paused for a moment, realizing where his
thoughts had traveled. James reminded himself of his plans and his future, a
future Noelle did not belong in. With that in mind, he rolled off the bed and
stood up.
              “I’m going to get a drink. Would you like
something?”
            The bewilderment on her face was clear but
he squashed the guilt rearing its head. “I’ll take that as a no.” And with that
he turned his back to her and walked out the room not bothering to get dressed.
             
            Watching James stroll
away so nonchalantly was gut wrenching. Noelle wasn’t sure whether to
cry or be angry. She wondered how he could be so unaffected after what she
thought was pretty special. One second she was on the highest of highs and now
she felt lower than she had in a long time. Noelle was positive she hadn’t imagined
the connection between them. It went beyond physical. But she couldn’t figure
out why he’d leave her so abruptly. Doubt assailed her and she wondered if
she’d pleased him.
            Noelle lay on her side and stared off into
space, not really seeing anything. When James returned to the bedroom she sat
up. “Hi,” she greeted shyly.
            He gathered his clothing off the ground.
“I’m going to shower in the spare room and then head out.”
            “You’re not staying?”
            “No.” It was just a simple word but it
came out so abruptly it sent a chill through her.
            “Maybe we can go out for dinner the next
time you come by,” she suggested.
            “Maybe.” His
noncommittal response gave her the impression he had no intention of taking her
out anywhere.
            Once he’d scooped up his belongings, James
headed for the door. “I’ll be in touch, Noelle.”
            Instinctively, she knew better than to ask
him when that would be but she had to know the answer to the one burning
question on her mind. “James.”
            He halted in mid-stride and turned back to
her. She tried to keep her gaze on his face but it was hard not to take in his
magnificent body. Her breath caught in his throat. The man was a walking,
talking Adonis.
            “What is it Noelle?”
            “I was wondering, uh did you like it? I
mean, did I please you?”
            He remained silent long enough to make her
squirm. At first Noelle didn’t think he would answer. “You still have a lot to
learn but you have a lot of potential.”
            “Oh.” It wasn’t the answer she’d expected.
            He walked over to the bed, bent over and
caught her chin between his fingers. James brushed his lips against hers. “You
were fine, Noelle. I’ll be in touch okay?”
            She nodded feeling only slightly
mollified.
            As he headed for the door a second time,
James paused. “Those store accounts you have access to—use them.” And then he
left.
            In the blink of an eye he’d transformed
from an attentive, passionate lover to a cold stranger.