Aftershock (6 page)

***

Chapter Nine

As Caitlyn and Tag left his
office, the man in the suit who had held her briefcase jumped up from the chair
he had been lounging in.  He was a handsome man and he reached for her hand so
he could kiss it. “Hello Ms. Watson. My name is Adam Montgomery, Tag’s right
hand man.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Let go of her hand, Adam,” Tag
snapped. “She doesn’t need you slobbering all over her.”

Caitlyn sent him an amused glance,
but was distracted when her cell phone rang. Adam stood there with a wide grin
on his face as he watched his usually stoic friend pull Caitlyn back to his
side away. 

Ah, the mighty have fallen…

“Tag, I need a sec.” Adam said, smiling
apologetically to Caitlyn.

She waved them off as she moved
away to take the call.  It was her boss, and she knew what was coming. Taking a
deep breath she answered and got an earful. Carl started screaming as soon as Caitlyn
had answered. She tried to stop his rant, but he couldn’t hear her as he
steamrolled right over her. Anger surged through her as he continued to spew fifth
at her and what a disgrace she was to Manchester Klein.

“Carl! I don’t need to justify
myself to you. You already fired me, so I don’t have to listen to you anymore,
asshole!” Leaving him sputtering she flipped her phone closed. Shooting a look
over at Tag and Adam, she met Tag’s dark penetrating eyes. A slow smile spread
across his face as he simply walked away from Adam. He grabbed Caitlyn’s chin,
titling her head up and kissed her hard. She moaned as he took the kiss deeper
then pulled back as Adam cleared his throat. 

“Caitlyn is going to be working
for the Steele Enterprise marketing group,” Tag announced in a loud, clear
voice.

“Welcome
aboard.”

“Hey,
I didn’t accept yet!” Caitlyn pushed away from Tag.

“You
will,” both Tag and Adam said at the same time, earning both of them a glare in
return.

“Men,”
Caitlyn muttered dryly as she headed for the elevators.

****

“I could have them killed for
you.”

Caitlyn had to laugh at that. Tag
had insisted on going with her across the street to Manchester Klein to
retrieve her personal items from her desk.  The entire office had gone silent as
they made their way through. There were no goodbyes offered, no well wishes. In
fact, no one spoke a word to Caitlyn as she packed up her belongings. 

That simple fact had Tag fuming
again. The only thing that had pleased him while they were there was that Ryan
had run for safety soon as he had seen them. Carl on the other hand stood in
the doorway of his office, glaring at her as she’d collected her things.
Caitlyn had explained the sexual harassment she had been dealing with on their
walk over and Tag found that he wanted to punch Carl in the face just for
looking at her.

Instead, Tag had leveled hard
eyes on the other man and spoke calmly. “Expect a call from Robert Manchester
soon.”

Asshole.

Tag enjoyed the way Carl’s face
paled and turned away. He wasn’t worth their time anymore. Tag would ensure the
prick didn’t try and take advantage of any other women working at Manchester
Klein.

He’d make damn sure of it.

Tag was so proud of Caitlyn as
she had held her head up high and met the curious stares with a look of mild
amusement. Caitlyn had reached out for his hand, the only sign of her nerves
had been the slight shaking of her hand, but he had gripped it with his own and
held tight as they left.

Now, absconded in Tag’s town car,
she smiled and squeezed his hand. “Aww, Taggie. Thank you for that wonderful,
yet strange offer. Although I would love to take you up on it, I think we’ll
let them live and continue to do…whatever bastards do.  Besides, I think I got
the better end of the bargain.”

He blinked. “Taggie?” The
incredulous expression on his face was a mixture of bafflement, pleasure and
discomfort.

One of her eyebrow lifted. “Baby?”

Settling for amused, he laughed
and that slow easy smile spread on his handsome face and had her heart thumping
in her chest. Caitlyn tried for a casual shrug. “You pull out baby and I get to
use Taggie. It’s the way of things.”

Tag shifted closer to brush his
lips softly over hers. “Guess I am going to have to get used to it. If you
really want to go change, I can drop you off and pick you up in a little…” He
punctuated the words he spoke with little kisses. “We can go for a nice dinner
and celebrate your birthday. Then we can go back home to my place and I can
make love to you all night.”

Loosing herself in him, Caitlyn let
out a sigh of pleasure. “Well, boss man. How ‘bout we skip to the end and just get
takeout?”

“Baby, you say the sweetest
things…”

****

Tag took Caitlyn up to his
beautiful penthouse apartment, which was only a six floor building so the
height wasn’t that much of a factor.

He drew her a bath in his oversized
sunken marble tub and brought her a glass of champagne, telling her to enjoy a
soak while he got dinner ready. Needing no encouragement, Caitlyn had quickly
stripped and let her body relax in the fragrant water. It had been endearing to
watch Tag struggle with the bath salts and the candles that he had so
meticulously set out for her.  Obviously he had never done this before, and
that made it mean that much more to her. She had watched as he pulled out a
package of bath stuff from under the sink that still had the handwritten note
from his mother on it, telling him to find a woman to pamper.  

Caitlyn closed her eyes and laid
back, letting the heat soak into her weary body. When she opened her eyes
again, she saw Tag sitting on the lip of the tub. He had changed into simple
black pants and a black t-shirt that looked like a muscle shirt over the expanse
of his impressive chest and it made her want to take it off him.

“How do you feel, baby?”

“Mmm, I think you are going to
have a problem ever getting me out this tub.”

He chuckled, then leaned down to
brush his lips over her forehead. “I like seeing you here. I could get used to
you being here all the time.”

Leaving that alone, Caitlyn
pushed herself to a sitting position and tilted her head to the side. Trying to
lighten the mood she asked, “Are you going to feed me?”

Smiling, Tag got up to grab a
large bath towel and held it open in front of him. Water sloshed off of her
naked skin as she stood and Tag embraced her in the warmth of the towel as he
lifted her easily out of the bath. 

“I could get used to your little habit
of carrying me everywhere,” she murmured.

Tag chuckled as he gently rubbed
her skin dry. He reached over for the robe hanging from the back of the door
and held it out to her. It was his. It smelled like him and Caitlyn laughed as
he had to roll the sleeves up several times so her hands could peek out. 

He pulled her out into the
bedroom and down the hallway to the living room area. Hundreds of candles were
lit, creating a sparkling fairy land of starlight around the room.  Roses of
every color were placed in vases wherever there was space for them, filling the
air with romance.

“I didn’t know your favorite
color,” Tag whispered.

“How… Oh, Tag.” Emotions choked Caitlyn.
She blinked the tears away when she could no longer see. Turning to him, she
burrowed her face into his chest and hugged him tight. 

He held her close and lifted her
face, pressing his lips to her cheeks to wipe her tears away before kissing her
lips lightly. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

  “Tag...” Caitlyn whispered. “No
one’s ever done something like this for me.  I…I’m speechless.”

“Well, that’s all going to change
now. I like doing things to put a smile on your face, baby.” He wiped the tears
still sliding down her cheeks away with his thumbs as she gave him a watery
smile. He took her hand in his and led her over to the table that was set up
with their dinner and pulled out the chair for her.

They dined on buttery lobster
tails and tender filet mignon, chatting easily about their lives. With her plate
almost cleared, she put her fork down. “I think I’m going to explode if I take
another bite.”

 Tag smiled at her as he leaned
back in his chair. “Move in with me.”

Caitlyn had just taken a sip of
wine and spray it out all over the table. “What? What?  Tag, we just met
today!”

Unwavering eyes stared back at
her. “I know. You probably think I’m crazy, but I know what I feel.  I want you
to move in with me.”

“You can’t be serious!”

“I’m very serious. I know this is
sudden, but I know what I want. I want you. It doesn’t have to be today or
tomorrow, but I wanted you to know what I’m thinking.” 

Caitlyn tipped her glass back and
finished her wine before she answered. Liquid courage. “You’re moving way to
fast for me here. I’m…ah, I’m not very good with relationships.”

“Neither am I. You aren’t alone
in this. We’ll struggle through together.”

“I know, but this…things are
complicated. Move in with you? I mean it’s going to be weird enough with me
working for you, but to move in with you? You barely know me!”

Caitlyn felt like she was in an
emotional whirlwind. Fear, panic, joy and excitement fought within her as she
stared back at him wide-eyed.  He placed a small box on the table and pushed it
toward her. The small box had panic pushing all other emotions aside. 

Holy fucking shit on a stick!

Amused, Tag leaned forward to
take her hands in his. They were like ice. “Baby, I’m not proposing so you can
wipe that horrified expression off your face. Just open your birthday present.”

Caitlyn pulled her hands from his
and picked up the small box. Her hands were shaking.  She opened the box to see
the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. The large square cut aquamarine was
in an antique silver setting. All she could do was sit there, watching the
light sparkle off the surface of the stone.

“It was my grandmother’s. It came
to me when she died.  My grandparents were happily married for over sixty
years. She wore this ring everyday from the day he gave it to her till the day
she died. The stone reminds me of your beautiful, expressive eyes. This ring is
a beginning for us. I want this ring to be a promise, from me to you. A promise
to make this work, to make us work.”

“A promise,” Caitlyn murmured.
She looked back at Tag with love. Who cares that she had just met him. Tag was
her dream man. “This doesn’t make any sense. I just met you but I’m falling in
love with you.”

Tag got up and came around to
take the ring out of the box. He pushed it onto her finger of her right hand
and kissed her. “That’s good, baby, because I’m falling in love with you, too.”

The aquamarine sparkled in the
candlelight as Caitlyn placed her hand around Tag’s neck to draw him to her
again as tears streamed down her face. “If you keep making me cry, you’re going
to start pissing me off.”

He chuckled. Breath released on a
sigh as their lips brushed softly. His lips trailed down to touch the side of
her neck, fluttering like a butterfly’s wings. Her stomach tightened as his
hands slid up to part the front of the robe so he could cup both of her breasts.
She purred with pleasure as his fingers gently tugged at her nipples. Caitlyn
put her hands over his to stop him.

“Come with me.” Caitlyn spoke
softly as she took his large hand in hers. He followed without a sound as she
pulled him back into his bedroom.

***

Chapter Ten

Caitlyn’s tongue
slipped out to wet her bottom lip as she turned to him. Tag felt his body
clench with need at the provocative sight. He moved closer so his hands rested
gently on her hips, lowering his head so his mouth met hers.

They both moaned at
the touch. 

Caitlyn reached down
to cup his erection in her hand and slid her tongue deep into his mouth when he
gasped. She pulled back, just enough to open the robe and let it slide down to
the floor and watched his eyes cloud with desire. Reaching out, she pulled his
shirt off, but when he reached for her again she shook her head. 

Confused Tag asked,
“What’s wrong, baby?”

“Nothing,” she said with a smile

“Why won’t you let me touch you?
What are you doing?”

His eyes flared with heat as he
watched her. She had pulled his pants and boxers down as she dropped to her
knees in front of him. He kicked off the clothing and stood before her naked,
dark stubble shadowing his face making him look just a little dangerous. His beautifully
sculpted body glowed in the soft light. “Just relax, Tag. I’m giving you my
promise. Just relax and let me do my thing.”

A smile twitched at his lips. “Have
at it, baby.”

He felt his eyes roll back into
his head as her tongue flicked out to lick at the semen weeping at the tip of
his cock. “Fuck!” he growled as she took hold of his hot hard length with her
hand.  Slowly, Caitlyn took the head of his cock into her mouth and swirled her
tongue over it, watching him as she did.

Tag shuddered and swore again, the
pleasure so intense he could barely breathe. She pulled back and blew cool air
over the bulbous head before sucking it back into her mouth.

“Fuck baby, that’s so good. God,
your mouth feels so good on me. Suck me. Suck my cock, baby.”

She moaned and he could feel the
sound humming over his cock as she sucked the length of him down. Working her
mouth over his cock, she kept her hand in place to stroke over the rest of his
shaft she couldn’t take.  She pushed more of him into her mouth and he felt the
tip of his cock hit the back of her throat. Tag’s hips jerked. Barely able to
control himself, he reached down to pull her mouth off him.

“Fuck it baby, I’m too close and
I want to be inside you when I come.”

Tag’s entire body trembled with
need. He picked her up and literally threw her down on the large bed. Her body
was that of a goddess, ripe and lush. It made him want to get on his knees and
beg. 

“I need to taste you. To get you
ready for me.”

Tag pushed her thighs apart. He
settled between them, pushing them wider, spreading her so his body could fit.
He shoved two fingers deep inside her, thrusting them in and was rewarded when Caitlyn
moaned with pleasure.

“Look at this pretty pussy. Got
to get you ready for me, baby, because when I get my cock in you it’s gonna be
fast. You like that don’t you? Like me finger fucking your tight little hole?”
Before she could answer his tongue swiped across her clit and had her bucking
under him. His mouth closed over the small nub. He sucked as his fingers
continued to tunnel into her.

 Caitlyn screamed as she
shattered into a million pieces.  Her body had no time to recover as Tag
continued to suck and lick at her pussy, drinking her come down like a man
starved.

“Tag, I need…I need you. Come
inside me.”

“With pleasure sweetheart.” 

He crawled up her body, shifting
to align his cock at her tight entrance and drove deep.  Caitlyn screamed his
name as Tag impaled her over and over again with his big cock. He swallowed her
cries as he took her mouth and continued to pound himself into her. Her legs
locked around his hips, holding him to her. He kept his eyes on hers as he
hammered into her pussy with fast, brutal strokes and watched as she came
again.

God, he loved to watch her face
when she came. Her vision blurred, eyes going opaque, her body shuddering in
release as she cried out his name. Only then did he let his release come.  He
felt as though the top of his head had blown off as he let out a hoarse shout
and filled her with his seed.

Caitlyn’s lungs worked to drawl
in air.  Her heart pounded in her chest like a freight train and there was a
slight buzzing in her ears. She stared at the ceiling and ran her hands through
Tag’s hair since his face was buried into the side of her neck. She was
startled as Tag’s head snapped up, his eyes feral. 

“Again,” he growled.

“What? Oh…!”

Caitlyn’s eyes went wide as Tag
started to move within her again. His teeth nipped and bit at the side of her
neck. Taking his time, Tag pulled back so his only the tip of his cock was
still inside her, then thrust back so deep he hit her cervix.

“I’m still hard for you, sweetheart.
I can’t get enough.” He shafted her slowly as he spoke. “You feel good, so damn
good, baby. I need more.”

“Take what you need, Tag.”

His thumb stroked over one of her
nipples before his mouth settled over it.  He sucked at it then moved to the
other breast to continue to lick and suck. He stroked the flames of passion as
he continued to plunge deep.

Caitlyn loved the feel of him
inside her. His hard body pressed against hers. Pleasure shot through her with
each thrust and her hips rose to meet his. Tag’s large hands continued to roam
over her body making her tingle all over. She had never been with a man who
talked so much during sex, but she loved it.  It was such a turn on.

Now, she was going to see how he
liked it.

“I love it when you talk dirty to
me, Tag.  Just the sound of your voice makes me so hot. I love what you do to
me, how you make me feel. You feel so good deep inside me, your big cock
filling me so full. I want you to come inside me again, fill me with your cum.”

He pushed his cock up through her
tight muscles and stopped when he was all the way inside her. Sweat rolled down
his face and his eyes were closed. He looked like he was in agony.  Ragged breath
tore from his body and his voice was harsh, strained when he finally spoke. “Baby,
you have to stop. I can’t control myself when you say shit like that. I wanted
to go slow, to make love to you slow, but you’re pushing me.”

“I want to push you. Fuck me, Tag.
Fuck me hard and fast. Show me how much you want me.”

With a strangled growl, Tag
pulled back and in one move had her flipped onto her stomach.  His hands bruised
her flesh as he raised her hips, placing his big muscular body behind her. He
shoved the entire length of his flesh inside her, hips pistoning as he covered
her like an animal.

He couldn’t stop, control
shattered beyond repair.

Her body jerked under him as he
thrust with the full force of his body. She gripped the sheets, trying to
steady herself for his violent thrusts.

Fire flashed, consuming her.

“I’m coming, Tag! Come with me. Please,
come with me,” she chanted. The muscles of her pussy clamped down on him as
another powerful orgasm ripped through her with such force she could barely breathe.
He let out a hoarse shout as he jerked against her, pumping her full of his hot
cream.

She fell forward, sprawled out on
the bed with Tag over her. They lay there, in a tangle of legs and arms, bodies
covered with sweat. Long minutes passed as they struggled to catch their breath.
When Caitlyn found her voice she murmured, ”Wow…wow.”

Tag’s breath whooshed out.
“Yeah.”

“I have to say that was some
promise we made just now.”

“Any better and I think you would
have killed me.” Tag snorted.

Caitlyn turned to snuggle into
him and he pulled her close. A feeling of contentment came over her as she
looked down at the promise ring he had placed on her finger. “This feels so
right, being with you.”

Tag placed his hand over hers,
entwining their fingers together. “We have something good here, baby. Just give
us a chance and you’ll see how good we can be together.”

Caitlyn lifted her head, placing
her chin on his chest looking him straight in the eye.  “If you’re willing to
try, then so am I. Just make sure you remember to make your promise to me every
night, in every position.”

With that, he laughed.

That was definitely a promise he
would keep.