Body (39 page)

“I’m going to keep this phone. See if we can trace the texts,” the officer says. “Maybe we’ll get a hit but it’s likely that the perpetrator used a phone you can buy at any department store for thirty bucks and toss it after.” I nod.

“Don’t worry about your phone. I’ll have a new phone delivered to the Penthouse tomorrow. One that has a tracking device and a new phone number.” Chase adds.

“Thank you,” I say quietly, not choosing to mention anything about the additional security. If it is Justin, I’ll need the extra security. “Are we done? I just want to take a shower and go to bed.”

“Not here you’re not. Neither of you are staying here,” Chase gestures at Maria and I. Maria balks and protests but Tom stops her cold.

“You will stay with me,” Tom argues. “At least until this asshole is found.”

Maria rolls her eyes and stomps into her room complaining in Spanish. I choose not to argue with two over possessive pissed off males. In past experience, the combination can turn volatile. Tom follows Maria into her room, and I head to mine. Once inside I grab the suitcase I emptied a few days ago and plop it on my bed. Chase enters and leans against the wall. His appearance is more disheveled than usual and his hair looks like he’s combed his fingers through it a time too many.

“How long am I staying with you?” I ask over my shoulder wanting to pack the right amount of clothing.

“As long as it takes…forever maybe.” He pauses when I look up, trying to gage his sincerity. This is all happening far too quickly for my taste.

“Chase,” I start but am cut off by his arms around my waist and his chin nestled into the crook of my neck. I clasp my hands over his and lean back into him. I always feel so safe in his arms. But I’m not moving in with him and he has to know that. “I’m not moving in with you because some immature lovesick puppy is choosing to mess with my head.”

“We’ll see,” he says noncommittally.

I roll my eyes and turn to face him. I kiss him deeply and he nips at my bottom lip playfully, lightening the heavy mood. I love him more for that.

“Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“Gillian, I will always run to you, remember?” He smiles and kisses me softly again. “Now, let’s get your things.”

He helps me pull together a good week’s worth of clothing. He assures me that anything else will be taken care of. A messenger will pick up our mail each day and deliver it to both Maria and I. Our plants will be watered and the house will be watched. If the perpetrator tries to access the home, Chase’s people will know it.

***

The next few days go by in a blur. Chase has taken over-protective to an all-time high. First thing Friday morning, I’m introduced to my very own personal bodyguard. Austin looks like Sylvester Stallone on steroids. His nose has seen better days and looks as if it’s been broken a few times. His shoulders span a good three feet and he’s over six foot tall. The man couldn’t be a day over thirty but has already served a decade in armed forces. Even though I fought Chase on the concept of personal protection, I do prefer Rambo over the linebacker who hates me. At least Rambo doesn’t look at me with contempt and answers every question I ask with good manners saying, “Yes Ma’am, and No Ma’am.” His Southern drawl surprised me at first but I find the quality endearing.

“Will you be eating lunch in today, Ma’am?” he asks as we drive to the office.

“I’ll be meeting my girlfriends, but I’ll take a taxi,” I tell him.

“No can do, Ma’am. Sorry, against orders.”

“What orders?” I ask.

“Mr. Porter and Mr. Davis briefed me on the situation. You tell me what time you need to be somewhere, and I will be ready at reception. I’m not leaving the premises. I will be doing rounds the first few days, checking the area ensuring that people can’t come and go unannounced.”

The information is mind boggling and annoying. I decide it’s best not to fight it. Hopefully my secret admirer or
stalker,
as Chase puts it, gets caught quickly. Honestly, the whole thing seems utterly ridiculous. I keep thinking that if it was Justin he would have already shown his cards. He was never a patient man. He took what he wanted when he wanted. Nothing would stand in his way, though a Rambo clone could definitely thwart his attempts.

“Okay, well, pick me up at 11:45. I’ll be meeting the girls for lunch.” I tell him.

“A Ms. De La Torre, a Ms. Simmons and a Ms. Bennett,” he reads from a clipboard he set in the passenger seat.

“Those are the ones,” I say and open the car door.

He jumps out, comes around and opens it the rest of the way. His eyes scan the area. “Ma’am, please don’t get out of the car until I’ve assessed the location’s safety. I will always open your door, not to mention my Mama would take a switch to my hide if I didn’t open the door for a lady, even if it wasn’t my job.” He smiles. I like my Rambo more and more. He’s sweet, nothing like the stuffy, stuck up, suit wearing, linebacker Jack.

Austin walks me in and as I’m about to say goodbye, we’re buzzed through the glass doors to my office. My promotion came complete with a small office about half the size of Taye’s but situated right next to his. “I can find my way.” I laugh.

“Ma’am, I’d like to see where you sit, your surroundings and such so that I may commit it to memory.”  He’s so serious. His eyes scan the halls, take in each name on the doors. Overall he looks pretty scary. Then again, Chase would only hire someone who was well trained with the proper credentials. Probably makes double my salary, too.

As I lead the way to my office I decide to test him. “So, what’s my middle name?”

“Grace,” he answers.

“And the middle names of my best friends?” I toy with him.

“Bree Elizabeth, Kathleen Michelle, and Ms. De La Torre doesn’t have one,” he rattles off without spending a moment to think about it.

“Damn, you’re good,” I say, shocked. The guy has done his homework.

“Thank you, Ma’am,” he says shyly, a bit of pink dotting his cheeks. A Rambo look-a-like that blushes. This is my life.

“So one more thing.” He nods as we continue walking toward my office. “Would you take a bullet for me?” I ask.

“Yes. No questions asked,” he says flatly.

“Seriously? Why?” I’m flabbergasted by his answer.

“My job is to protect you and if that means taking a bullet, I will. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.” We reach the door to my office.

I’m genuinely surprised by his admission. I wonder who he took a bullet for. Was it during his time as a soldier? Was it while serving as a bodyguard for someone else? Where did he get shot? A million questions run through my mind as I open the door and stop dead in my tracks. Two dozen red roses sit dead center in the middle of my desk like a homing beacon to Hell. Austin senses my unease and pulls me behind him, his right hand going to the gun holster at his hip. I had no idea the man was even carrying a weapon. He looks around the room.

“Those shouldn’t be here.” I point to the roses. He nods and pulls his phone out and presses one button and brings it to his ear.

“Mr. Porter, we have a problem,” he says. “She received more flowers, this time at work.” His lips are drawn tight and he pulls at the card. He opens it without asking. I could complain but I’m too scared and choose to let him handle it and stand utterly silent. “She’s right here. I’d rather not read this in her presence,” he says into the phone. I pull the card from his fingers lightning fast. He scowls.

“It was addressed to me; I have every right to know what it says, Austin,” I snap at him. He has the good manners to look apologetic.

Gillian,

You can’t hide from me. I know where you work. I know where you live. If I don’t have you soon, I’ll make sure no one does.

You’re mine…Bitch!

I fall into my office chair and put my face into my hands. Austin reads the card to Jack over the phone.

“I understand. I’ll bring her to him now.” He hangs up the phone. “We have to leave, now.” Jack will handle the situation but Mr. Davis wants to see you at Davis Industries now.”

I nod, feeling completely numb. “Do you want to grab anything, Ms. Callahan? You won’t be coming back to work for a while.” I close my eyes and take a calming breath. I gather up my laptop and grab the ten donor prospects files I was working on and a few project briefs. Everything else I can have messengered later. I’m sure Chase will call Mr. Hawthorne and explain the situation and my need to work remotely for the time being.

Austin ushers me quickly to the car and settles me in. The ride to Chase’s office goes by in a blur. It’s as if I’m stuck in a walking coma. Before I can grasp where I am the elevator dings and Austin leads me down the hallway to Chase’s office. I walk alongside him blindly, not saying anything. His hand is firm on my bicep as he leads me to an office I’ve been to a million times already. Not like I need to be escorted, but if I’m being honest, the hand holding onto me keeps me up and moving forward. I just need to see Chase. My rock. I see Dana jump up from her desk and run to the door and open it for us.

“She’s here, Chase,” she says as I’m guided through the doorway.

“Thank you, Dana, Mr. Campbell. That will be all,” he says as he walks over to me. I saw him this morning but he’s never looked so good. My face crumbles the closer he gets and I lose it. The door behind me clicks and I flinch. His arms are around me, holding me, instilling light, warmth and the much needed safe feeling I have only in this man’s embrace. “Oh, Baby, you’re okay. I’m here.” I cry into his chest, the situation finally taking its toll. Someone wants to hurt me. Again.

“I don’t know what to do?” I sniff and he hands me his handkerchief. “I have no idea who this guy is or why he wants to hurt me.” The tears stream down my face and Chase wipes them with both thumbs on each side of my cheek.

“You didn’t do anything, Baby. Don’t worry, my people will handle this. You just need to lay low for a while. In the meantime, you can work in an empty office here with Mr. Campbell and Jack on point to ensure you’re safe.” I nod into his chest and hug him tightly. I scrape my nails along his sides and he reacts to my touch, his cock hardening. Something in me snaps.

I want control. I
need
control of something. I tip my head up and cover his lips with mine, kissing him deeply. I start to walk backwards towards the long couches as the kiss becomes heated. Once I feel the soft leather bump against my calf I turn around and push him into a seated position. He falls into a heap, a concerned but still sexy grin plastered across his face. I shimmy his knees apart with my hands and kneel between his spread legs. Even as his eyes assess my mood, he lets me take the lead, instinctively knowing what I need without me having to ask for it.

“Sexy, what are you doing?” He grins. He usually only uses that particular pet name for me when we’re being intimate.

“I’m taking what’s mine,” I say and pull his belt open, unbutton his pants and pull down the zipper. I rub my palm against the large cotton covered bulge and watch him close his eyes and tip his head back, groaning.

“What do you want?” he asks coyly, knowing exactly what I’m going to do. He’s playing along and I love him for it.

I slip my hands to the sides of his slacks and pull them down his hips, dragging his boxer briefs up and over his straining erection. Once I have his pants down to his ankles I admire his cock. It’s large, long, and thick enough to fill me to the brim. But not now. I have other things in mind. A pearl of liquid builds at the pretty pink crown of his cock and I lean forward, my hands on his hips. I inhale his musky male scent and my mouth salivates. His eyes watch me as I flick just the tip of my tongue out and capture that bead of his essence, then lick my lips on a moan.

“Jesus, all I can think about is stuffing my cock in that pretty little mouth of yours.” His words are strained and laced with sex. They rocket my desire to a boiling point.

I bring my head down and lap the entire length of his cock enjoying the answering moan I receive for my efforts. I nibble and drag my lips across every speck of his manhood leaving no space untouched, un-licked by my tongue. His hips move toward my face but he doesn’t pull my head down. His hands lightly entangle in my hair and caress my scalp lovingly. It’s not what I want or what I need right now.

I pull his cock into my mouth as far as it will go in this position and hollow my cheeks as I suck him hard on the way back up. His ass almost comes off the chair to keep my lips from leaving his shaft.

“Fuck, Gillian,” he says.

“I don’t want nice, Chase. I want you to fuck my mouth, hard. I need it.” I don’t recognize my own voice. He doesn’t need to be told twice. When I bring my lips around his cock, his hand comes around the base of my neck and he pulls me against his body, his cock sliding all the way down my throat and back again. I swirl my tongue around the tip and groan as he rocks up into my throat repeatedly, just barely allowing me the time to breathe before my throat is filled with his cock again.

Before I can finish him off he pulls my head back, fingers tightly pulling my hair at the root, keeping my wet lips just off the tip of his cock. He yanks my hair and kisses me hard, devouring my mouth. “Need to fuck you,” he says. “Mark you as mine.” I nod, fully understanding his need. We both have ridiculous possessive habits and this stalker issue is bringing them to the surface ten-fold.

He stands and pulls me up. Then he leans me over the arm of the couch roughly pushing up my skirt. I hear only his heavy breathing and the shredding of lace as he rips the sides of my panties off. Two fingers plunge deeply inside my soaked sex from behind. I scream in pleasure. He pushes his fingers deep as I push back against those searching digits. He fucks me with his fingers a few times, prepping me, and then they’re gone. I mewl in protest just as the wide knobbed head of his cock notches at my entrance and impales me in one hard thrust. His fingers grip my waist as he presses hard, the angle allowing maximum depth. “You. Are. Mine. I. Am. Yours,” Chase roars, holding my hands behind my back to arc my body. His fingers yank at my waist, pulling me back to meet his brutal thrusts.