BRIAN (The Callahans Book 1) (93 page)

              In Rose’s opinion, Taylor couldn’t have done drugs that night, but had been drugged. The primary reason she believed this was because of the drugs that had been found in his system. Scopolamine wasn’t a recreational drug, but rather one that criminals in Colombia were known for using in order to subdue their victims and make it easy to manipulate their behavior. The drug had the power to leave its victim amnesiac, and Rose was convinced that was the reason Taylor had been left with no memory of the sordid night.

              Though she believed his medical records didn’t imply any kind of wrongdoing or character flaw, but rather told a harrowing tale of Taylor having been targeted by someone hell-bent on destroying his life, the press wouldn’t see the evidence as favorably.

              Rose had forbid Carter to do anything with the information, and she couldn’t have stopped him, but the fact that he went to the press with Taylor’s most coveted secret weighed heavily on her heart. She felt responsible. She was the reason Carter was in Taylor’s office. And if she hadn’t insisted on working with her team in Taylor’s suite, none of this would be happening.

              It was with a deep sense of guilt that she finally said, “I’m glad you came back.”

              He sighed, and she sensed him nearing her, though he stopped in front of the sofa couch and sat.

              “Did the police call you?” she asked, lacing her fingers.

              “They did.”

              “Taylor, I’m so sorry about what Carter did,” she said, diving into all of the apologies and explanations she’d gone over a thousand times in her mind. “I didn’t mean for any of that to happen.”

              “I think it has yet to happen,” he said in a defeated tone. “The news hasn’t hit the press yet, which tells me they’re cooking up an elaborate lie.”

              “What can I do to fix this?” she pleaded from the couch, her tone trembling with fear that there might not be anything she can do. She might have already lost him.

              “God, Rose,” he said in a gentle voice, rising from his chair and joining her on the couch. “My reputation isn’t more important than your health. Someone attacked you. I don’t expect an apology. I know you can’t control Carter or anyone else. I just needed time to think, but I wish I’d never left you alone.”

              “Who would’ve done this?” she asked. “Who would want me dead?”

              Taylor didn’t respond except to let out a carefully measured breath, drawing his warm hand up and down her back. She pictured him clenching his jaw, puzzled, his gaze turning soft as he slipped into deep thought.

              “It’s too great a coincidence that hours after Carter threatened us that he’d gone to the press, you ended up getting attacked.”

              Rose gaped fearfully. The police had suggested as much, but it hadn’t felt as real as it did now, hearing Taylor state the possibility.

              “Whoever they are,” he went on, “they won’t get away with this. Every inch of this building is covered with security cameras. It’s only a matter of time before we find out who they are. Trust me, they’re going to go to prison for a very long time.”

              She found herself leaning into him, melting into a more relaxed pose in response to his strong arm resting around her back, his warm hand hooked on her hip.

              “I wasn’t sure you’d ever speak to me again,” she said.

              “Hey,” he said in a reassuring tone. “I have a lot to figure out. This whole mess with the media isn’t something I want to deal with, but it wouldn’t be a reason for me to cut you out of my life. I know you didn’t alert the press. I’m not blaming you.”

              “But you should blame me. If I hadn’t insisted Carter come to your office, none of this would’ve happened.”

              “Well, what’s done is done. I have a good PR team. They’ll figure out a way to address it.”

              Though his words were pragmatic and reasonable, there was a hint in his tone that suggested he was just as worried as she was. In the next instant his lips found her cheek and he kissed her softly, then worked his way over to her lips, which he lightly pecked.             

              “I don’t know what I would’ve done if they had really harmed you,” he whispered.

              “I don’t even want to think about it.”

              She felt his breathy laugh against her cheek, which he then kissed again.

              “You’re so strong. I can’t believe you fought them off.”

              “I can’t, either,” she said as surprised as he was at her ability to come out of this relatively unscathed. “Does my neck look bad?” she asked, tipping her head back and offering it to him to examine.

              He did for a moment, then his mouth landed on the side of her throat where he delivered lingering kisses, working his way up to her jawline and her mouth. His hand cradled the nape of her neck, as he titled her head, deepening the kiss.

              Relaxing into his embrace, Rose realized how tense she’d grown all over again at the thought of having escaped death. When Taylor eased back to look at her, she said, “I think we should change the locks as soon as possible.”

              “Me too,” he said softly before kissing her again. “I’ll be right back.”

              Leaving her on the couch where she sensed moonlight pour in through the window at her back, Taylor made his way up the hallway and into his office where he called a locksmith and made arrangements for them to come first thing in the morning. When he returned, he updated Rose on the appointment.

              “We’ll be together all night,” he added. “I doubt they would come back, but if they do, I’ll be here.”

              As he drew near her, she rose to meet him, stepping into his arms and feeling the strong length of his body pressing against her.

              “I’m exhausted,” she said, feeling the sudden weight in her muscles now that her surging adrenaline had waned out of her veins. She could barely keep her eyes open.

              “Let’s get you in bed,” he whispered.

              “What time is it?” she asked, as he guided her into the bedroom, keeping his arm wrapped around her until she came to the bed.

              “Just after eleven,” he said, helping her to lie down.

              “Here,” he said, grabbing hold of the hem of her shirt.             

              She arched her back, lifting up off the bed and raising her hands over her head until he pulled the garment free. He unbuttoned her jeans next, pulled the fly down, and Rose lifted her hips so that Taylor could pull them off and cast them on the floor.

              The air felt cool on her skin, but not cold, and when he leaned beside her, propped on one elbow so that he could gaze down at her and caress the side of her face with his warm fingertips, the heat rolling off of him made her hot.

              She felt his mouth brush her ear, as he said, “I’m not that tired if I’m being completely honest here.”

              She smiled, but couldn’t say the same, though she wanted him. Whenever she sensed him getting hard for her, she couldn’t resist, no matter how exhausted her body felt.

              She stroked her fingers through his thick hair, remembering its dark color and the particular twists of his cowlicks that gave him an eternally boyish appearance.

              He neared her for a kiss, as his hand touched down between her legs, his fingertips grazing softly over the thin material of her panties.

              The sensation of his strong fingers grazing her gently stirred up a flutter of heat, and she spread her legs in response.

              “I won’t make you work at all,” he whispered, his cool breath tickling her ear, her neck. “But I need to feel you.”

              “Okay,” she whispered back, suddenly wet from hearing him communicate his need to be inside her.

              Taylor slipped his hand beneath her panties and began delicately fondling her, exploring her wetness, the curves and folds of her aching body, as she moaned, breathing heavily in response to his stimulating touch.

              Her hand was cupping his chin as he kissed her, and she lowered it to caress the strong wall of his chest, then his hard abdomen, until she found his hard, thick erection beneath his boxer-briefs.

              Eager to feel her warm hand wrap around him, Taylor shifted and drew down his boxer-briefs with one hand, causing his big erection to spring free, slapping her palm until she caught it and began stroking.

              He groaned and found her wet labia again, gently massaging her, as she widened her legs for deeper stimulation.

              She loved the way he felt so smooth and hard in her hand, so long and thick. She lightly brushed his tip with her fingers, tickling him and anticipating the moment when he would push his hard head against her slippery vagina.

              “Take off my panties,” she whispered, aching for him so badly she couldn’t wait for him to explore her any further. He laughed breathily in her ear.

              With one hand, he slid the garment down her thighs. Once he peeled them over her feet, he pulled down his boxer-briefs the rest of the way and tossed them to the floor where her panties had landed.

              Rose grasped the strong wall of his chest then slid her hands around his sides as he angled over her and lowered down, his erection flexing for her, her hips rising and pelvis tucking to help him find her and penetrate her as quickly as possible.

              “Oh,” she moaned when he entered her at the perfect angle.

              As he gently pressed his hard, thick erection deeper, thrusting slowly into the tight, wet sheath of her body, he groaned then kissed her roughly, as she opened up every part of herself, her legs and heart spread wide to receive him.

              Naturally, her legs had wrapped around his waist, but as he thrust as deep as he could go, he whispered, “Lower your legs.”

              He felt so hard and big inside of her. She almost didn’t register the command, because she was lost in the overwhelming feel of him, but when he prompted her again to lower her legs, she slid her heels along the comforter until her feet were flush against the outside of his.

              Taylor groaned into her ear as he began grinding deep inside her, the shaft of his thick erection stimulating her G-spot.

              He felt so snug and she was so slippery that she felt an instant surge of pleasure flutter through her loins.

              “Damn, Rose, you’re tight,” he groaned then kissed her mouth, as he thrust a little quicker, a little harder.

              She moaned into his mouth then pursed her lips to resume their long kiss.

              As he increased the pace, using longer strokes to thrust in and out of her, she felt the hot, sudden ache of the upward swing into climax, his firm pubic bone tapping into her clit, his thick shaft sliding in and out and stirring up the most blissful friction.

              “Oh, Taylor, you’re making me come,” she whispered, breathy and stuttering in his ear.

              He laughed, holding his cheek to hers as he increased his thrusting even more, working her into a tizzy of arousal.

              Having the length of him pressed against her—his strong chest, his hard abs, his arms hooked under her shoulders, his big penis thrusting deep inside—felt so incredibly amazing that she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but what came out of her was a long, melodic moan, as she savored the strong build of him working her body into an orgasm.

              Just when she felt she’d arch over the crest of her climax, Taylor slowed, holding himself deep inside her and resuming a gradual grind, filling her completely. The change in pace pitched Rose into a fresh wave of ecstasy, and she cried out.

              Taylor was getting sweaty, and as she held his muscular arms, sliding her hands up until she was running her fingers through his hair, she breathed deeply his masculine scent, feeling as though she couldn’t get enough of him.

              “Rose,” he groaned, lifting up so he could look at her smiling face.

              “Yeah?”

              “I’m dying to have you from behind.”

              “Oh,” she moaned, turned on to hear about a new way he wanted to take her sexually.

              Shifting, she turned and lifted onto all fours, as Taylor squeezed her hips and angled her back into an arch. He helped her widen her legs, and the next thing she knew, she felt his tongue lick up the length of her labia, penetrating as he swept over her vagina, then finishing with a few gentle licks to her butt.

              She moaned, arching her back more, and as he blew his cool breath over her hot, wet genitals, she cried out, “I need you inside me.”

              Immediately after, he penetrated her, fast and hard, turning her legs to rubber, as a strong wave of heat roiled through her.

              With a firm grip on her hips to hold her in place, Taylor began thrusting, slowly at first, then building his pace until he was sliding freely and fast. Rose moaned from having him command her body so easily.

              When he settled into a consistent rhythm, he reached around, his right hand gently grazing her stomach then down her abdomen until his fingers found her clitoris. There he delivered a firm massage, his thick warm fingertips caressing her.

              “Oh, Taylor,” she moaned, arching her back and savoring the size and feel of him.

              “Are you coming for me, Rose?”

              “Yes,” she exclaimed, feeling the strong series of clenches unfolding deep inside.

              “God, you’re sexy,” he groaned, reaching forward with his left had to stroke her breast, as he kept thrusting and massaging her clitoris.

              Soon Taylor was breathing and thrusting hard, holding his erection deep inside her for a few seconds between each hard penetration, to force his own orgasm. 

              “I’ve never wanted you more,” he groaned then breathed out a long moan, keeping his penis deep inside her and climaxing hard.

              As he held himself there, she felt herself continue to clench around him, her orgasm smoothing out and fading gradually. He felt so good and so right inside of her. If only life were no more complicated than the pleasures of their lovemaking.

              Sliding out of her, Taylor wrapped his arms around her waist, turning and helping her to lower to the bed where he cradled her and began stroking her hair.

              Rose settled into the crook of his shoulder, her arm draping over his chest, her left leg hugging his.

              In a smooth, deep tone, he asked with an air of humor, “What am I going to do with you?”

              She smiled, but deep down she wondered. What would he do with her? And how would he prevent her attacker from returning to finish the job?