Body (17 page)

“I’m accident prone. Can we get on with the stitches? I need to get to work.”

Doctor Dutera slaps the file shut and nods curtly. He pulls on a pair of latex gloves then proceeds to clean the area around my stitches. Chase brings his hand to my back and caresses my lower back and up to my neck and down in a calming motion.

With the first snip of a stitch and the corresponding burst of pain, my mind catapults to another time.

“You’re a lying little whore! You think I don’t know about you and Todd?” Justin is on a tirade. He’s shit-faced drunk with a chip on his shoulder. I know instantly nothing good will come of this.

“Justin, I would never cheat on you. I love you. You know that. There’s no one else but you,” I assure him. The blow comes so hard against my eye I fall to the floor. I clutch the tender spot over my eye in pain.

“You’re fucking your study buddy. I know it! The second I leave he has his hands all over you, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he?” he screams.

I try to stand, but he kicks me in the gut repeatedly. Hot, white, pain rips through my chest as I hear the sick crunching sound of my rib breaking. I lose count of the blows. I howl and gasp when he comes down on top of me, holding my arms over my head with one hand. Forcing broken ribs to stretch and arc almost makes me black out. The pain is so intense it’s as if I’m being gutted.

“Look here, you little whore; no one is going to want you. You’re not worth your weight in shit. You’re lucky I’ve stayed, but you will not fuck, kiss, or touch another man. You got it?” He bangs my head against the wood floor and I see stars. I nod furiously in answer to his question but he punches my face anyway, splitting my lip open. Blood oozes down the side of my face, the taste of copper fills my mouth as I gurgle and sputter around a scream.

“Gillian, what the fuck? You’re okay, Baby, you’re okay! I’m here.” I feel Chase’s strong arms around me. I clutch his suit jacket. Tears stream down my face.

The doctor has backed away, his eyes wide, mouth agape. Chase has his arms firmly around me as he pets and caresses me. I haven’t had a flashback in a long time. Over a year at least.

“I’m okay, I’m sorry. I’m fine.” I push Chase away and avoid looking into his eyes. “I’m fine now. Thank you.” I wipe my wet cheeks with the backs of my hands. “Doctor, are we finished?” I sniff and Chase hands me a handkerchief. Of course he would have a handkerchief. Probably monogrammed. I wipe my dripping nose on the soft cotton.

“Yes, but Miss Callahan, I think we should discuss what just happened here,” he suggests.

I hop off the exam table and grab my purse. Chase stands behind me. “Not today. Thank you, Doctor Dutera. I’m sorry for the…I’m sorry.” I grab the door handle and briskly walk out to the waiting room and straight on out to the city street. Once I am outside I inhale deeply, taking in my surroundings, trying to let go of the raging past that swarms around my subconscious like a hive of angry bees.

When I catch my breath and shake off the last dregs of the past, I notice Chase leaning against the car waiting patiently for me to address him. I know he wants answers but right now, I don’t have them. I don’t know that I ever will.

“Look, Chase, I can’t explain what happened in there--”

“You can, and you will,” he says, his tone firm.

“I can’t.” Tears stream down my face again as I desperately try to find a way to deal with this.

Chase wipes them away, and then kisses each cheek and finally my lips. “Later then.”

I nod into his chest as he hugs me. His firm embrace is like a haven to my tortured soul. Safe, warm, and solid. I clutch at him, digging my fingers into his muscular back. He holds me tighter and whispers in my ear. “Do you still want to go to work? I could call Mr. Jefferson for you?” he offers.

A bubble of laughter fills me and spills out as I rub my nose against his breastbone, inhaling his woodsy citrus scent. I pull back. “That’s rich. Let the Chairman of the Board call in sick for me from work? Somehow I don’t think that would go over well.” I smile then inhale and exhale slowly, letting it all go. Being here, having Chase’s arms around me just makes it better. “I’m fine. Take me to work.”

We get into the car and we’re off to the Safe Haven Foundation. When we arrive, I jump out of the car before Chase can comment or Jack can open the door. “The car will pick you up after work, Gillian,” Chase calls.

I turn and look at him as he slowly walks toward me. He really is a modern day Superman. His lengthy form as he walks toward me is virile, manly. Chase’s dark hair blows enticingly in the wind giving him that rugged sexy aura as he stalks toward me in a black suit that was tailored to perfection. The blue pinstriped dress shirt is making his eyes light up and seem even bluer than what is possible in real life. His sculpted features turn liquid and sensual as he reaches me, places his hands on my shoulders and slides them up to cup my neck. He caresses my cheeks with his thumbs as I’ve come to expect from his touch.
“I will take care of you. You’re never going to be hurt again,” he promises. If only that were true. He doesn’t know me. I’m damaged. I close my eyes, cutting off the sincerity I see in his eyes. “Tonight,” he grins.

I nod. “Tonight.”

He kisses my forehead and releases me. I stand with my eyes closed as he walks away.

***

Jack arrives with the full limo promptly at 5:00 p.m. I see quite a few stares and mouths catching flies at the front of the building as I scurry into the vehicle. This ought to give the gossip mill new fodder for at least a week.

The drive takes thirty minutes from one side of the city to the other in rush hour traffic. I don’t mind. It gives me time to think.

I haven’t had a flashback like this morning’s in a long time. I didn’t realize those old wounds were still so close to the surface. I haven’t even heard from Justin in six months. Doesn’t mean he’s done taunting me. Sometimes I hear from mutual friends that he’s asked about me, trying to find out my whereabouts. The last time I saw him I was with Daniel.

Daniel and I were together about three months then. Daniel was larger than Justin and promptly scared Justin shitless. He also helped make sure a restraining order against Justin was firmly in place. He wasn’t aware of the details, just that Justin was part of my past and not a pleasant part. The night we ran into Justin, Daniel stayed over after the run in. He made slow, sweet love to me. I didn’t orgasm, never did with Daniel, but it was a nice respite from the volatile situation with Justin.

I was content with Daniel. He made me feel safe. He was a large man that I knew could take out anyone who tried to harm me. I met him at the gym, but he was an accountant for a large firm downtown. He worked out as much as I did. It was about the only thing we had in common. Daniel was good to me. Treated me like a lady. Only problem was he did so in every aspect of our relationship. Sexually he was inept at fulfilling me. There was no passion.
Not like with Chase
.

Chase is in a league of his own. I have never felt such a deep seated attraction to another person. My immediate fascination with Justin pales in comparison. My body gravitates towards Chase, and I’m powerless to stop it. He stirs desire that burns in me like white hot fire. Just thinking about him has my pulse quickening, my core thrumming and my thighs pressing together.

Jack stops in front of a tall, concrete and glass skyscraper. The building is unique from its neighbors. It’s sleek and sophisticated but has a charm you don’t often see in a concrete jungle. The building is a bluish gray in color. Red accents surround each window of the bottom floor. A huge waterfall alternates water bursts and then trickles down three tiled tiers. A glowing concrete sign boasts “Davis Industries.” I shake my head, laughing at the absurdity that I’ve been to this building before to see Phillip and never knew the Chairman of my Foundation owned the building.

Jack ushers me to the wide bank of elevators. We step in and he presses the “50” on the lit display. Under the fiftieth floor is a letter “P” and a square LCD screen with the words “Thumbprint” on top of it.

“What’s the P stand for?” I ask.

“Penthouse, Mr. Davis’s private residence.” His lips thin into a grim line and I wonder if he’ll ever be nice to me or capable of having a congenial conversation.

“So, you have to put your thumb over the screen?” I’m curious. I’ve never seen anything like it. The movies with the rich billionaires all have some type of keycard or physical key to unlock the magic quarters.

“Yes.”

“Do I have access?”

Jack smirks. “Very few have access to Mr. Davis’s private quarters.” He looks at me as if I’ve grown horns. “His women friends don’t typically receive access to his home.” He turns back to the closed doors of the elevator.
Women friends.
Is that what I am?  Would Chase’s bodyguard know otherwise?

I remember that Chase mentioned he didn’t take women back to his home. I wonder if he’ll take me there. He’d said he wanted to but that could have been a random remark, not really his intention. Do I want to have access to his home? What would that mean for us? 

The doors open to the fiftieth floor and a beautiful blonde woman greets us. “Miss Callahan.”

I recognize her from the board meeting last weekend. She was sitting next to Chase taking notes but didn’t participate in the meeting.

“I’m Gillian Callahan.” She comes around the desk and shakes my hand.

“Jack, I’ll take it from here, thank you.” Jack nods and walks down the hall. “Mr. Davis is expecting you.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?”

“Dana Shepherd. I’m Mr. Chase’s personal assistant.” She smiles warmly at me. She’s a very beautiful woman. Probably in her early thirties. Even in heels she’s still a couple inches taller than I am. Dana’s thin with a runner’s long and lean build and dressed in a fierce black suit, though her gait is much softer. Her blonde hair is pulled up into a chignon so perfect I would have thought it was professionally done by a hair stylist.

“Good to meet you.” She’s the epitome of what I saw Chase with in those pictures online. Has he slept with her?  

She leads me through a long hallway. Several people in suits rush by with jackets and briefcases. I imagine they are heading home for the evening. Even at the late hour, there are quite a few people still in their offices, phones glued to their ears. We end at a section of double doors with a desk sequestered to the right side. Dana steps around the desk and hits a button. “Miss Callahan is here to see you,” she says.

“Bring her in,” a curt voice comes through the speakerphone. She opens the doors for me.

The room is exceptionally large, taking up the entire corner of the building. One wall is glass from floor to ceiling looking out over the dimming city. The Pacific Ocean can be seen clearly from this height. The view is breathtaking. To the left of the room is a seating area with two long couches parallel to one another separated by a black reflective coffee table. The couches are white with bright blue and black pillows neatly placed. A canary yellow sculpture stands about two feet tall in the middle of the coffee table. Along the back wall is a sidebar with what looks to be a small bar. The space is decorated well.

To the right of the door is an enormous black desk. Behind it is a matching credenza filling the entire wall with intricate pieces of art. A couple sculptures, small paintings, statues of varying size are precisely placed in specific locations. A couple of framed photos are thrown in between the art, but I can’t tell what they are from this distance.

Chase sets down his cell phone and his eyes meet mine. His gaze is predatory. He takes his time dragging his gaze from the tip of my head to the spike of my heels and back again. He saunters over like a wild animal hunting its prey. All stealth and smooth moves. When he reaches me, his hands slide into my hair and his lips cover mine. He’s gentle at first but increases the pressure, sliding his tongue along the seam of my lips. I open and his tongue circles mine. I’m lost in the sensation of his kiss. Heat builds from our chests pressed together. My body goes liquid against his and he holds me up through his kiss. He tastes of coffee and his own intoxicating maleness. He briefly pulls away and nips at my bottom lip.

“I’ve missed you this week,” he says against my lips. Even though we saw one another just this morning, we both know what he means. We missed the physical nature of our connection all week.

“Me, too.”

His lips press mine once more. “Dana, I won’t need any further assistance. I’ll call you in the morning and bring you up to speed on anything over the weekend.”

I completely forgot she was standing there. Turning and looking behind me, I can see a huge smile is plastered across her face. “I’ll have clothes sent first thing in the morning.” She looks me up and down in a calculating manner. I cringe and she smiles. I look up at Chase and he smiles in her direction and nods. She closes the door.

“What’s that about?” I ask, still in his embrace.

“She’s never seen me kiss a woman in all the years of being my assistant. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever entertained a woman here.” That makes me innately proud.

My lips part in an “Oh” and he laughs. I smile up at him. “Baby, you are so beautiful when you smile.”

I love when he calls me baby. Anything that shows his interest in me on a more personal level. “It’s you, you know,” I confide shyly.

His fingers slide up and down my back ending at my waist. “What is me?”

“You make me smile.” I dip my head to avoid his gaze. He seems to see through me when our eyes meet, as if he’s gazing directly into my open soul. I’m not ready for him to know so much about me.

“I plan on doing a lot more than making you smile.” He punctuates each word with a thrust of his hips against mine. I feel the ridged length of his erection hard and unrelenting. “Just seeing you here makes me ache.”

His words fill me with uncontrollable lust. “Jesus, Chase, I want you.” I haul his face into a crushing kiss. I fiercely try to devour him whole. The time for niceties is over. I’ve had enough of his innuendo and teasing all week. It’s time for him to make good on his promises.