Addiction (15 page)

My gaze falls to her ass, and I can’t help but allow my eyes to look her up and down. I run my tongue over my upper lip as it begs to lick the two dimples on her lower back. My cock jerks, reminding me that not touching her is harder than I had expected.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
She doesn’t want you
. Even if she did, you can’t have her.

I walk over to her bed. “Taylor,” I say roughly. She doesn’t move. “Taylor,” I say a little louder. Her body being this exposed and this close to me is trying my willpower. “Taylor,” I call out as I lean over her bed and give her a little shove.

She lets out a little moan as she rolls over onto her back. I freeze where I stand as she lets out a heavy sigh.

My heart rate picks up now that I can see her tits through her thin t-shirt and half her belly is showing. My hand twitches to touch her. I reach out slowly but jerk it back quickly. Fuck!

“Taylor,” I yell needing to get her up and get the hell out of here. “Wake up, Taylor.” I shove her harder on her shoulder this time.

Her eyes flutter open just for the briefest of seconds then a soft smile spreads across her lips. “Case …” She sighs heavily and my knees almost buckle. Get out! Get out now!

I clear my throat once again. “Taylor.” I shove her again. “You need to wake up.”

Her eyes open once again as her hands go to her tits. I suck in a deep breath as I try not to explode in my pants. As if she finally realizes what she is doing, she pulls her hands away quickly from her chest and sits up in a rush.

“Case,” she says still sounding breathless. Her tits bounce under the thin fabric of her shirt as she breathes heavily. “What are you doing in here?”

“I’ve been trying to wake you for a few minutes,” I growl. Fuck, this woman turns me on. I can’t imagine how I would be if I actually had the chance to fuck her. “I’ve been sitting in the kitchen for over twenty minutes. Savannah told me you were in your room. I just assumed you were getting ready.” I shrug as I ramble on.
Don’t be a pussy, play it cool.

“Savannah?” She yells out so loud it makes me take a step back.

“What?”

I spin around to see a smiling Savannah try to hide behind her coffee. I narrow my eyes at her. She knew exactly what she was doing. Oh, she’s good.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” Taylor demands from behind me. I don’t dare turn around now that I can hear her moving around in her room, probably trying to get dressed.

Savannah looks at me with a smirk on her face. “I thought you were up,” she answers simply.

“I’ll be out in a minute, Case,” Taylor snaps, and I take the hint.

“I’ll …” I look down at the floor, “be in the kitchen.” I walk out of the room but don’t miss the wink that Savannah gives me. I sit down at the kitchen table as I hear them talk. It’s not as if I could tune them out if I wanted to.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Taylor demands.

“Why are you so upset? He’s already seen you naked,” Savannah says carelessly.

“What I care is that I moaned his name,” Taylor hisses.

“I know. I heard it.” Savannah laughs. “That was awesome.”

“Quit laughing at my humiliation,” Taylor snaps.

“What’s so humiliating? So what you were dreaming about the guy? What woman doesn’t?”

I smile to myself.

“That doesn’t make it okay, Savvy. Case is my boss.”

I hear Savannah snort. “So what? You think he hasn’t fucked any of the women who have worked up there?” I swallow nervously. Change the subject … “I’m not telling you to marry the guy. I’m just trying to get you laid.”

I smile once again. So she doesn’t have a boyfriend? I haven’t asked her. And Blane never did answer my question. I’m not saying that she couldn’t have one, but the odds she has one and is not having sex … well, I guess it could be. Very unlikely, but it’s still a possibility. Or there’s always the other alternative. She’s a virgin. I highly doubt that, though.

I straighten my back as Taylor storms out of her bedroom and down the hallway now dressed in a black pair of yoga pants and tank top. “Let’s go, Case,” she scowls as she walks past me, not even bothering to look over at me.

Savannah gives me another wink, turns around, and walks back to her bedroom. I let out a sigh as I head to the front door. I don’t want to make Taylor uncomfortable. This day isn’t going as well as I hoped.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TAYLOR

Just kill me now!

I wish I could fall off the face of the earth and never have to look at Case again. Well. That’s not true. I wish he could never see me again.
I called out his name.
I heard his voice, but I thought it was a dream. When I opened my eyes and saw him standing there, I still thought I was dreaming of him.

Talk about embarrassment and shame! The man already told me he wouldn’t sleep with me. And hell, I shouldn’t want him, but there’s that saying, you want what you can’t have. It’s like someone wanting to take a walk on the wild side. He would be my wild side. The rebel I wouldn’t mind experiencing. But no, it can’t happen.

You just had to go and embarrass yourself like a fucking idiot. I grabbed my breasts? Jesus, just strike me dead now. I’m actually sweating now that I have to sit next to him in the confined space of his car. Sweating like a whore in church. Because that’s what he thinks of me. A whore! Who does that? I mean there’s nothing wrong with pleasuring yourself, I’ve done it before, but not in front of the guy I’m dreaming about. I’m going to kill Savannah!

I continue to look out the passenger window as he speeds down the highway, passing other cars. I refuse to look over at him. I might say something that will make me look like an even bigger idiot.

“I’m sorry,” he says for the fifth time since we got into his car. “I was trying to wake you …”

“Stop,” I demand. He’s just making it worse. It’s not his fault I have the hots for him. It’s not his fault I dreamed about him. It’s not his fault I slept through my alarm. It’s all my fault! And Savannah’s! Now, I have to sit next to him in this tight little sports car. And it sucks. I keep telling myself not to look over and stare at him, but that doesn’t mean I can’t smell him. And God, he smells amazing. Edible even. All manly and dangerous.

My skin is still tingling from the fact he saw me almost naked this time.
Nothing he hasn’t already seen,
Savannah had said.
But that doesn’t make it any easier
.

Thankfully, he doesn’t try to say anything else to me. He exits from the highway and slows as he comes up to an old metal building with
Frank’s Garage
on the tin roof. Cars ranging from older to newer body styles litter the front lot. “Stay here,” he orders before he opens the car door and gets out.

I sigh as I bang the back of my head against my headrest. I think Savannah was right. I just need to get laid. Then he wouldn’t affect me like this. He would just be my boss then and not the man I can’t quit picturing naked.

Even as I think those words, I watch him through the windshield of his Corvette. My sunglasses shield my eyes from him. I see the same man who drove the wrecker the other night walk out the front door. He shakes Case’s hand and they begin to speak. I don’t pay any more attention to the older man. All I can do is look Case up and down. The way his tight dark jeans fit him just right. They hug his muscular thighs and then flare out over his dark gray tennis shoes. His baseball-style shirt, black with gray sleeves, hugs his broad shoulders and pulls against his back. He’s wearing that same black baseball cap he had on the day he came into the coffee shop, and it makes him look even hotter. I sigh heavily as my shoulders slump. This is a very bad idea. I should not want to get in bed with my boss. Especially one who is involved in illegal activity.

He turns around and starts walking back to his car. I sit up straight and let out a long breath as I smooth my hair down my face, trying to tame the beast since I just threw some clothes on and I didn’t even brush it. I frown when I smell the smoke and alcohol from the club from working last night. I roll down my window when I see him walking over to my side of his car.

“I’m gonna go inside for a minute and then I’ll pull it around front for you.” Before I can even say anything, he walks off.

I leave my window down and place my head against the headrest again. Have I made him uncomfortable? He told me he doesn’t
fuck
women who work at the club. He knows I find him attractive. Which makes me wonder … will he fire me?

My phone alerting me I have a new text message gets my attention. I look down at my lap to see it’s from Savannah.

SAVVY:
Getting some action yet?

I roll my eyes.

ME:
Stop! It’s not gonna happen!

I place my phone in my purse and stare at the black dashboard. It’s not as if I’ve never had a boyfriend before. I have. You could even say that I was in love, but it ended about six months ago. It wasn’t one of those relationships where we fought, or we treated each other like shit. We got along really well. It was just too comfortable, and we were more like best friends. It got to where we were having sex less and less. We stopped being affectionate with one another. The love we had for each other was still there, it was just a different kind of love. So we made a mutual decision to break up. I still talk to him, and I used to sit next to his new girlfriend last semester in lab. She’s pretty and really nice to me. She’s not like those bitches who hate the ex. She understands that it didn’t work out, and she’s thankful for that because I guess she’s been in love with him since our first year in college. I truly wish them the best.

I look out the window when I see my car coming through a gate on the side of the building. I roll my window back up and then reach down to the floorboard to grab my purse. I hope it doesn’t cost me more than I’ve made in the last two nights. Five hundred dollars is a hell of a lot of money for a girl like me, but that’s all I have. I’m willing to give it all up for my car; I just don’t want to have to tell them I don’t have it if it’s more than that.

I get out of Case’s Corvette as he pulls my car up next to it. My poor car looks like a salvaged vehicle next to his fancy white Corvette. And mine isn’t even old. I’ve never had problems with it before now.

He gets out of my car and holds the door open as I walk over to him. I just stand there as I stare at him behind my shades. “What?” I ask nervously.

“Are you going to get in?” he asks, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

I look around to find his friend who owns the body shop and wrecker service. “I need to go in and pay,” I announce.
Please don’t be over five hundred dollars
, I chant to myself.

He shakes his head. “No need. It’s taken care of,” he simply says.

My eyes widen in shock. “Case …” I breathe. “Please tell me you didn’t pay for it.”

“No. I told you he owed me a favor.” He taps the top of my open car door where his hand rests. “It’s been paid.”

Oh. Of course, he didn’t pay for it. Why would you think he paid for it? Now, I feel stupid. Just another reason to feel embarrassed. “Thank you,” I say softly.

He nods his head. “Get in,” he orders.

I walk around him and get in behind the steering wheel. “Thanks for everything,” I say feeling awkward. Geez, I just keep owing this guy. My tab has to be well over a thousand dollars by now.

“No need to thank me.” He smiles down at me, showing off those white teeth that make him look drop-dead gorgeous. “I’ll see you tonight.” Then he shuts the door and turns to walk over to his car. I let out a puff of air as I place my car in drive. I need to go home and go back to sleep. It’s gonna be a long night at work again.

CASE

“Case?”

I spin around in the club as I hear Brecken call out my name. “What’s up, man?” I ask, placing my phone in my back pocket.

I can tell he’s pissed off about something. His mouth is in a hard line and his hands are fisted down to his side. I frown; when he’s in a bad mood, you don’t want to fuck with him.

“Rachel is up in your office,” he says through clenched teeth.

“Okay,” I say slowly. “Are you two fighting?” It wouldn’t surprise me. The man is in love with her even though he doesn’t mind sharing her with me. It actually turns him on when we take her at the same time. It drives him nuts when she fucks around with other men though. She tends to pick ones who are married or have girlfriends because she likes the drama. We, on the other hand, don’t have time to put up with it.

“Something like that.” I watch him pass me by and take the stairs two at a time. I turn and follow him. I had called Rachel earlier this afternoon on my way over to pick up Taylor and told her to come in early before her shift tonight because we needed to talk. I guess we’re all going to have a meeting.

Brecken opens my office door and walks in; I follow behind him. I don’t miss the
fuck you
look Rachel throws him as she sits on the couch before looking to me. “Hey, babe.” She smiles. “What did you need?” she asks with excitement.

“Don’t try and pull that bullshit on Case either. He’s not going to believe it,” Brecken snaps.

She stands from the couch quickly as her eyes narrow on him. “Don’t you dare judge me,” she yells. Then she looks at me. “All you two do is lie,” she shouts.

“Whoa,” I say lifting my hands. “Calm down. What is going on?” I demand. Rachel has always been one to overreact. But Brecken? The fact he’s this pissed at her has me worried.

He turns to me as he points over at her. “I went over to her place last night and found drugs on her kitchen table.”

My eyes slam to her, and she cowers back from Brecken. “What is he talking about, Rachel?” I demand. She’s not allowed to do drugs. No employee of mine is allowed to do drugs. Drugs may be done in this club, but employees doing drugs can cause trouble. First, they take a hit here and there, and then they’re bringing in God knows who to get a hit while they’re on shift. “That is unacceptable.”

Tears start to well up in her big brown eyes. “It wasn’t mine,” she cries out.

“You’re lying,” Brecken yells. “What in the hell were you thinking?” he demands getting in her face.

“Please, baby.” She reaches up and grabs his shirt. “Please believe me. A friend came over and she left them there.”

He just stands there as he stares down at her, his hands down by his side clenched in fists. I can see it all over his face. He doesn’t want to believe her, but he will because he believes everything she says. She has him so wrapped up. It’s pretty pathetic.

I sigh as I run a hand over the top of my hair. “We can settle this tomorrow.” They both look over at me. “Rachel, tomorrow you are doing a drug test. It’s been a while anyway.”

She nods quickly. “And then you’ll see.”

He reaches up and pries her fists from his shirt. He turns around and falls into the chair in front of my desk. “We need to talk about last night, Rachel,” I say.

She wipes the tears from her face and then looks at me. “What about it?”

“You have been causing problems in this club. More than usual,” I add tightly.

“It’s not my fault,” she whines.

“It never is,” Brecken adds.

“Case …” She walks over to my desk. “That guy grabbed my ass. I can’t help that his wife didn’t like it. What was I supposed to do?”

“Maybe not put your ass in his face?” I offer with a raised eyebrow. Rachel has to have all the attention. She can’t live without it.

“Come on, Rachel. Be smart. He was married and here with his wife. He just looked at you as a fuck toy, for fuck’s sake.”

She spins around giving me her back so she can face Brecken. “That’s all I ever am. Just a fuck!”

He snorts. “Maybe if you didn’t act like such a whore, then men would treat you differently.”

She slaps him across the face so hard the noise echoes in my office. I sigh. Typical Rachel. Brecken just sits there in his chair as he looks up at her, his face red from her hand and jaw tight. He’s probably turned on by it. He is just as fucked up as the rest of us. We love pain. Without it, we would feel nothing. “You two don’t seem to have a problem with me being your little whore,” she spits out.

“Neither one of us are married or have a girlfriend,” he growls.

I don’t feel sorry for her. She knows she needs help. Brecken and I have offered to pay for therapy—even medication, if that’s what she needs. But she always refuses. This is her high. This is what she likes. To be treated and talked down to like she’s nothing. She uses sex as a weapon.

I stand from my desk crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re not working tonight,” I announce.

She spins back around to face me. “Why the hell not?” she snaps.

“Because you’re a liability.” Her mouth falls open in shock. “Take your drug test tomorrow. If everything comes back normal, you can work tomorrow night.”

“You’re gonna let him do that?” she demands to Brecken. He just stares up at her, her handprint still on his face. He shrugs as if to say he doesn’t care what I do.

“We open in an hour. No one is going to take my shift that quick,” she says all but crying once again. I hate to see a woman cry, no matter who it is. She knows that. She knows everything about me.

“I’ll have Taylor cover it.” She did just fine last night when Brecken gave it to her.