Taken Love (11 page)

I LOOKED IN the mirror of the suite I reserved at the Meridian Hotel and Conference Center, where she was having her event tonight. I stood in the mirror, freshly showered, and dressed in a black Armani tuxedo. I couldn’t believe that she had written a book, but she was always writing when we lived together, and she always loved it. I had no clue she would still be writing all this time later. Now
that
was a surprise, but I couldn’t wait to hear more about her book, and to finally see her in person. I fixed my bowtie, and buttoned the jacket of my tuxedo. Alongside Sherman and my security, we were now on our way to the ballroom on the main floor.  It was a huge event, and I was still in shock that the moment I’ve waited for, was finally here. We were already breathing the same air, on the same continent, and I knew in a matter of time we would be locking eyes very soon. We entered the room, and it appeared that the event was in full swing, there was an author onstage already, and it wasn’t Kathleen. I had made a mental note to not engage with the press at all while here.

I didn’t think I could anyway. I had no words for anyone, but her. That didn’t stop them from trying to get to me, but my security made sure they didn’t get too far inside my personal space while Sherman looked for Kathleen. We had used some age enhancement technology to get an idea of what she looked like now, since my surveillance team couldn’t get a clear photo of her. I made my way to the open bar, I needed a double shot of scotch right now. I then heard applause, and turned around to see a woman approaching the podium. She began to speak to the audience crowding around the stage. I stood there waiting for my drink as she spoke. I looked around, I noticed a few heads turned into my direction. I ignored the attention, this night was about her, and I would not take her shining moment. I turned my back on the whispers and stares, waiting for my drink. I didn’t know why it was so surprising to see the CEO of P2 enterprises here anyway. I was still a person, and I liked to read books when I could. I turned, looking for Sherman, he was nowhere to be found. Although the rest of my security was nearby, blocking the press from bothering me. I exhaled after finally receiving my drink, I took a sip and began peeling a few bills to leave as a tip. It was then that I heard her voice...

“Hello everyone, I’m a little nervous, but my name is Kathleen Toth-Chamberlin, and I am a new author.” She stated. My back was stilled turned from the stage, while all the hairs on my body stood, and my cock was at full attention in mere seconds. I found myself gasping for air as I turned around, and
she
filled my view. She was now on stage, speaking to the audience. There she was, Kathleen, the love of my life, was just mere feet away from me.  Before I knew what I was doing, I was almost to the stage, as if I was having an outer body experience. I stood there, off to the side, watching and listening to her speak, she looked… flawless. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my life. Then and now. She was perfect in every way. Her face, her mouth, her voice, her body.
MINE!
 

“I started writing this book six years ago, and took my time finishing it. Now it will be revealed to everyone tonight, I am very excited. First I would like to reveal the title of my novel, it has depth and personal meaning for me. The title is; ‘
Loved to pieces
.’ It's a story about a woman’s first love, and also her heart break.” I gasped so loud that, a few people looked over at me, and I then saw Sherman making his way over with a smile on his face.
Loved to pieces
. I used to tell her all the time that I loved her to pieces, and she named her book that?
Did that mean she missed me? Or did it mean she hated me still?
  She walked over to the large display stand. It was the only one left veiled. The veil was removed, and revealed the cover of her book. It was beautiful and intense. There was a female standing barefoot on the sand, but there was no ocean visible. You could tell that the water was close, because of the surrounding midst. The woman, with very long black hair, stood in a sea of sand, in a flowing dress blowing in the wind, with a dimmed sun in the background. The title was written in the sand, as she looked down at it, with pain etched on her face. I stared at the cover as if I was struck dumb. This was too much, too much for me to take, I downed my scotch, handing the glass to Sherman. I looked back at the stage, and she was looking directly at me. Our eyes locked, breathing stopped a moment, suspended in time. A true moment of silence. Shock, anger, love, and passion. So many emotions crossed her face, and I remembered what each one meant. She began to hyperventilate, overthinking again, and closed her eyes, as if she were seeing things.

She reopened them at the applause, and looked back over at me, blinking in shock. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to touch her, and make sure she was really here. “Thank you,” she spoke, and everyone applauded again, I made my move. I moved through the crowd to get to my queen, the only woman I belonged to, and she would know it, tonight. She stepped down from the stage, and was immediately swept up into the arms of a tall man with blond hair, who hugged her tightly. She was stone-faced, and he was the complete opposite, as he smiled, congratulating her. She was staring past him, at me as I approached her. I took my time, and once she was in front of me, face to face, we both had stopped breathing. “Hello, Kathleen,” I uttered, barely finding my voice as my eyes burned into hers. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, and I actually felt a little nauseous, just watching her chest rise and fall with each breath.  She’s alive. She’s here. She’s perfect.

I had worried so much about her these last few years, and to see her now, alive and well, rendered me speechless. I noticed Sherman, and my security, keeping the press and the other guests away as best as they could, giving us a moment. 

“Well, look who's here… Johnathan
Asshole
Pierce.” She frowned, and I smirked. “May I ask what in the hell are you doing here?” She smiled sweetly, and I knew she was masking her irritation.

“Honestly?” She nodded, and I smiled at her.

“I came for what is
mine
, and she is standing right in front of me,” I deadpanned, and she gasped and began panting, eyes roaming, looking for a means of escape, before looking back at me. 

“What is
yours,
huh? Are you sure you just didn’t come here to
destroy
me, all over again?” She asked, glaring at me.

“I’m sorry for what I didn’t do these last six years, Kathleen.”

“Which was?” She hissed.

“Stop loving
you,
to pieces.” I stated confidently, looking over every inch of her body, with my eyes stopping at her wedding ring finger. I wanted to see my ring on it, once again, and I would. She caught my gaze and cleared her throat, and I looked back up at her. 

“Stop
that
. I know what you’re thinking, JP,” she stated, and hearing her say the name she’d given me, made me want to take her right here in front of everyone. To grab her, and kiss her lips. To suck them, and coat them with my own. To caress her body with mine, and taste every inch of her, right here, and right now. I growled in my throat, and I could see that she trembled slightly at my stimulating thoughts, resulting in her taking a step back from me, as I took a step towards her. 

“TC, maybe I should leave you
two
alone?” The blonde guy stated, irritably. TC? For Toth-Chamberlin?
Who was this jackass?

“You should leave
us
alone.” I quickly stated to him, as I stared at her. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was perfect, and she was still connected to me, I could feel it.
How was that possible after all this time a part? 

“JP, you don’t speak for me.” She murmured, exhaling in exasperation.

“I’m sorry, but who are you?” The jackass asked me, but I couldn’t see him, all I saw was her.

“Her husband, and like I already told you,” I turned, staring him straight in the eye, “
You
can leave now.” I glared at him, giving him a silent warning, as my security stepped up behind him. If this man thought he was leaving with my KP, he was sadly mistaken. 

“Is this true, Kathleen, is he your, husband?” He asked, perplexed, as he looked at her, with hurt in his eyes. 

“On paper only, but yes, we’re still legally married.” She spat at me, while talking to him. I was happy that she knew, that I’d never signed the papers, and I found myself smiling at her.

“Well, I guess I’ll leave you to
your
husband then. See you out in the field, TC, and congratulations again.” The jackass snarled.

“Bryce?” She called out, but he continued to walk away, and when I turned back towards her, she was scowling at me. She huffed and turned, walking away from me, cutting through the crowd in determined strides following him, with me on her tail. 

“Kathleen, wait.” I followed her, as she went out of the closest exit door, and it slammed closed behind her. I then opened that same door, and saw her running after that guy named Bryce, and I felt my rage ignite into something out of a horror movie
. MINE!!
The sight of her running after any man was enough to stop me in my tracks, and I knew I needed to walk away from this scene, before something horrific happened, but I couldn’t. She talked to him for a few minutes, he nodded and then glanced behind her to see me there, and then he quickly hugged her, and left her standing there. When she turned around, I was half way down the alleyway, watching her, and I could tell by her face and body language that she was not happy with me. She headed towards me, her full hips swaying, mouth parted, as the determined strides of her heels on the concrete loudly ricocheted throughout the alleyway. When she reached me, she pushed me against the brick wall of the hotel in the alleyway, while grabbing a fist full of my tuxedo jacket. 

“Where are you staying tonight, JP?” She snarled.

“The Grosvenor suite, room 1240.” I uttered, as I felt my cock twitching and my mouth watering, my heart was pulsating. I was a nervous wreck.

“Kathleen, please.” I muttered.

“Please what?” She tilted her head, looking at me a little too calmly.

“Kiss me, touch me, forgive me… love me.” I whispered, feeling my ability to talk slowly leaving me, but I had to tell her the words I’d been dying to say, before I couldn’t. I felt as if I were in another realm, as if I was stuck between reality and fantasy. I’d been dreaming of her for so long. It was harder than I ever imagined it to be, to accept that she was now in front of me, touching me. She was so close that I could smell her, and I was losing it, with every second that passed. 

“You want me to kiss you, JP?” She asked, leaning forward, and slowly kissed the side of my mouth. “You want me to touch you, JP?” She muttered, as she ran both her hands up and down my chest, touching me just like she used to. She slowly slid one of her hands lower, up and down over my cock, making it nearly jump out of my pants in abandon. I groaned, feeling desire so thick it was making me dizzy. “You want me to love you again, JP?” She uttered, as she grabbed my wedding ring finger, tracing that finger towards her inner thigh, sliding it over the hardened nub that I could feel through her panties. I then curved and pressed my finger against her, making her gasp and shudder, all while she stared into my eyes. But the view was unlike anything, I always imagined it would be, and it was definitely not a welcomed one. I could tell she was still hurting, her eyes were cold and hard, and it rendered me speechless for a moment
. Kiss me, touch me, forgive me… love me.
She skipped the
“forgive me”
purposely, so I knew she still hadn’t, and it cracked me. 

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, baby.” I felt the tears swell in my eyes, and she froze, gazing at me. She swallowed dropping my hand. 

“I’m sorry too, JP. Do you want to know why?” I nodded at her, and she gave me a tight smile. “Well, I had psyched myself up to
finally
allow another man to touch me, and I’d planned to
finally
have sex tonight… and what do you do, huh? You show up here, and fucked it all up for me. Now, how is that fair…
playboy
? Have a good night, JP.” She walked away from me. Leaving me there in the alley, with my mouth hanging open in utter shock, and with a hard on that would no doubt keep me up half the night, writhing in pain. Now that she was here, now that she had touched me, I could never be without her. Besides, I saw something tonight, something that has made me even more determined to have her…. I saw a glimpse of her
fire
. That fire that I always loved about her, a flicker if you will.

She needed to be reignited and I nominated myself as the man to do it for her, by any and all means necessary. Kathleen was born to be mine, and she would be mine again, whether she wanted to be or not.

WHAT WAS HE doing here? How did he know that I had an event tonight? Was he looking for me? My brain was left scattered after locking eyes with JP, scattered all to hell. I was literally rendered speechless on the stage, in front of everyone in attendance, including the editor and chief of KGM publishing house. Thankfully my speech was done, and I just had lifted the veil to reveal my cover art. But once I did, a somewhat familiar resemblance caught my eye over in the corner, and I squinted my eyes at the side of a face.
His face
. It was as if I was drawn to look over that way, but I didn’t know who was over there, until he turned around and made eye contact with me, and my entire world stopped.
JP.
 

I hurried away from him, leaving him with a hard on, and devastation written all over his face. I had to get away from the boy who had broken my heart, even if he was no longer a boy. He was a man now. A gorgeous man, whose green eyes still haunted me to this day. A man whose chest felt hard as stone, whose scent made me dizzy with lust. A man whose cock had grown significantly in length and width, not that it really mattered. He was always a man who knew how to use what he was given, and he never lacked in the pleasure department in my time with him.
He always delivered
. He was still the man who laid claim to my body, whether he knew it or not. I hadn’t been with another man since him, so in some strange way, I was still his. That thought hit me like a ton of bricks, as I watched Bryce walk away from me with unexpressed hostility, after learning that I was still legally married and to whom.

I mean, who could blame him, JP looked like he wanted to murder the man. I was mad, pissed off if you will, at what was happening to my big night. I was in no way prepared to face him right now, not here, and definitely not like this. I hadn’t even been in the USA for a full twenty four hours, and he’d already found me, ruined my chance at sex, and told me he still loved me. It was hard to hear his voice, and to feel his touch, especially with him apologizing and pleading that he never stopped loving me. As much as I hated him for showing up like this, and taking over my night. I couldn’t help but wonder, if his words were true. Was I still what he really wanted, with so many years between us?
Kiss me, touch me, forgive me… love me.
His words made me stop breathing, and the tears that watered his eyes, refusing to slide down his cheek, nearly ruined me. He seemed so broken, and nothing like the playboy I would see in the newspaper, but I knew he was not to be trusted. Fool me once…
the stairwell
. Fool me twice…
the trust fund
. He angered me, and after all this time apart he still triggered me, and drove me crazy. He turned me inside out with a few spoken words, a touch, and eyes filled with salacious longing and remorse. It was painfully hard to kiss his face, and touch his cock, feeling it twitch relentlessly against my palm. 

But my anger, and the liquid courage, had given me the ability to touch him, and feel him beneath my fingers as I did. It didn’t mean anything to me, I considered it payback. For him showing up, and ruining my one chance of hot sex with Bryce. There was no way he would want me now, knowing that I was married. Even so, how would I be able to fully share myself with any man after enduring JP’s touch again? So far, it’d taken me six years to even muster up the idea of sex with another man. All I wanted to do now was find my family and get the hell out of here, which was what I’d planned to do after splashing some water on my face. I had a new life to live now, whatever that was. I had no desire to try and decipher anything anymore, including him. 

I had left him in the alleyway, and headed to the restroom. I ducked and weaved through the crowded room, making my way to the back, past the open bar, where the restrooms were located. I had made a mental note to take a double shot of Jack Daniels once I finished in the bathroom. I needed a drink, it was mandatory at this point. I rounded the corner, but I was cut off by someone, a woman. A woman for whom I was
not
expecting to see, especially not here.
Blair.
We stood there, staring at one another in silence for a long few minutes, and I didn’t know what to say or what to do. I was already in shock at the surprise arrival of Johnathan Asshole Pierce, but this, this was the shock of the century, and I was really in need of that drink immediately.  The site of seeing Blair after all this time, was something I’d thought about for years while I was away, but I never imagined her being able to track me within my being back only a day. Apparently, there must have been a newsletter emailed to inform her and JP of my arrival.

“Kathleen?” I blinked, and heard the voice I was used to hearing for most of my life, but now it sounded stronger, and full of astuteness and guile. Assuring me that she was, in fact, a lawyer now. With that title, came the territory of brute authority and shrewdness, which she exudes to a tee. 

“Blair, it’s been a long time.” I muttered, taking a step towards her, taking in her appearance as she took in mine. I’d worn a simple black cocktail dress, short and form fitting, while she wore a beige buttoned shirt with a black skirt. She had diamond studs in her ears, and a wedding ring on her finger. I gasped when I saw the solitaire diamond on her finger, and she clutched at it, smiling sweetly as she obviously reminisced of her husband
. Blair was married!
  

“His name is Josh, and we met at Harvard. He is wonderful to me, Kat.” She sighed, and I smiled. I couldn’t help the pang of jealousy coursing through my veins, upon hearing that she was married and very happy, while I was married to a memory, a bad memory at that. I knew then that I needed to get him to sign the divorce papers, especially since I knew he was in town. He wouldn't keep me trapped in this any longer, I deserved to be happy too.

“I’m happy for you, very happy, Blair.” I murmured. 

“As I am for you. Congratulations on your new book. When I saw the press release, I almost had a heart attack, you had been gone for a good while. I didn’t think you were ever coming back.” She stated.

“You knew I was gone?” I asked.

“I called your mother quite a few times, until she finally told me you were “off grid.” She gestured with her fingers in the air, as she emphasized the words
off grid
. 

“After Columbia, I was gone for over two years. I thought about you, but I always assumed that you had forgotten about me.” I swallowed the emotion that was dampening my eyes. It was the truth though, she had forgotten about me even before she’d left for Harvard. Amazing, four years had passed at Columbia, without her reaching out to me not even once. But all of a sudden, she reached out once I was off grid? JP being here was supposed to be all the shock I had to endure for tonight, but there I was, staring in the face of my oldest friend, whom I no longer knew.
Would we ever just be Kat and B, again?

“I could never forget you, Kat, never. I work in town, I have my own firm now, and I wanted to see you, invite you over to my house for lunch.” She sounded so grown up, controlled, and poised. She wasn’t the Blair I remembered, at all. But I’d heard that law school changed people, with the pressure, the bylaws, and the relentless arguing of both sides altered people’s character. It looked like it did a real number on the free-spirited, chick-flick marathon, boy-crazy girl I used to call best friend. 

“I just got back, and need to regroup with my family a little first, but we can have lunch later in the week?”

“Sure, I understand. Let’s exchange numbers and get reacquainted again. I’ve missed you, Kat.” She stepped closer towards me.

“Me too.” I muttered. We exchanged numbers, and we hugged, I realized that I did miss her. That hug made me feel as if no time had passed. Blair would always be that puzzle piece missing in my life, as I am to hers. We may take a moment of silence in our friendship, but there would never be a divorce in sight. I wasn’t sure how to rebuild things with her, or with anyone. I was still wrapping my head around rebuilding, with my family. It was strange watching her walk away from me, as I stood frozen in time. She was my best friend for so long, and now she was a stranger to me. One who I wasn’t so sure I wanted to allow back into my life. I took a deep breath and glanced around the crowded hall from where I stood, and came across two green eyes staring back at me
, just
like old times. Knowing him, he probably watched the entire awkward conversation Blair and I just had. I mouthed
“Asshole”
to him, and he smirked, looking as captivating as he did ten minutes ago, when I’d kissed the side of his mouth. He then mouthed back
“I know.”
His arrogance was always appealing to me back then, always making me smile, as I was smiling now, before turning to make my way to the bathroom.
What am I going to do with him? 

     ***

It was hours later, and I was now taking the elevator up to the twelfth floor, my nerves made my hands tremble, while desire made my thoughts scatter. I didn’t know what to expect seeing him tonight, I was still in shock at his mere presence, but it awakened something inside of me. Something that had been dormant for over six years now. With just a simple touch of his skin, with just a waft of his scent, had me craving his touch again. I wanted to surprise him, show him that I missed him desperately, and show him that I am no longer that bitter young girl I once was. The elevator pinged at the twelfth floor, and I stepped out, looking for the Grosvenor Suite, room 1240. I walked down the short hall, trying to figure out if I should be here right now, or what I wanted to say to him once I saw him again. What would happen once he touched me again? Would I surrender like I always had, once upon a time? The double doors came into view and the gold plated sign on the side of that door was labelled:
Grosvenor Suite, room 1240
. I took a deep breath, and lifted my hand to knock on the door. There was no answer, and I knocked three times again, waiting for him to answer, waiting for him to let me in. But let him tell it, I didn’t need to be let in… because I never left.

“Kat, Kat, wake up it's time for breakfast, and then I want us to go shopping.” Margerie sat on my bed in my purple bedroom, so chipper and determined as usual. I groaned and placed my hand on my head, it was pounding from all the alcohol from the event last night. “Mar… shopping sounds like fun, but let me get up, and get a handle on this hangover first.” I muttered.

“Sure thing, Kat, umm, do you want me to allow Johnathan in here?”

“I am so tired... wait, what??” I gasped.

“He’s downstairs, with flowers, and he is very determined to see you.” She smiled, as panic filled my face. I didn’t need him here, upsetting my parents, what was going on? “He is so damn hot sis. He looks even better than he did when you two were married,
and
he is mega rich now.” She sighed. Little did any of my family members know, but we were, still married, on paper. 

“Johnathan is here, in
this
house right now?”

She nodded, and I nodded back, trying to fully wake up. He invaded both my event, and my dreams, and now my house? I jumped up and pulled out some clothes, moving quickly to ensure my father didn't hurt the man who hurt his oldest daughter.
Why did I care? He deserved it, didn’t he?
“Where are mom and dad, Margerie?” I murmured, as I ran back inside my room, with my toothbrush hanging from my mouth, pulling panties and a bra from my suitcase. I hadn’t even had time to unpack, and there was so much going on already.
Sheesh.

“They headed to New York with Max, to see his university and dorm room, for his stay at college this year. He’s convinced them to allow him to stay on campus. He starts college in the fall, he is so excited. I like college, but I am still a freshman, I may change my mind on that in a year or two.” She rambled on, while I ran around my room.

“Margerie, go and tell him I’ll meet him outside in fifteen minutes.” I then headed into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. After a quick shower, light makeup, and grabbing the small box that was taped under my bed, I headed down stairs and saw Margerie at the counter eating strawberries. 

“You look hot, sis, although instead of jeans and that tank top, I would have gone with a dress.” She critiqued.

“I guess it’s a good thing that
you’re
not
me
.” I teased.

“Oh, I would
love
to be you right now” She winked.

“Stop that. I’m still your big sister, behave.” I hissed, with a small smile on my face.

“Have fun.” She sung. As I opened the door, to see a black BMW parked in front of my house. I stood in front of our town house, as JP exited the car, with a large bouquet of white and red roses. I exhaled and headed towards the car, towards the man who haunts me. The one known as Johnathan
Asshole
Pierce.