“Hey…” I opened the door as she walked up the steps.
I decided not to wait and just let things unfold without having a say in it—the look on her face told me that she wasn’t happy. I immediately pulled her into my arms and kissed her before a word could leave those perfectly pouty lips. I felt hesitation for a moment, but then she melted into my embrace, and her kiss was as fierce as mine. Our lips stayed seared together as she crossed the threshold into my house, and I kicked the door closed because I didn’t want to take my hands off her. The kiss brought all of the passion to the surface, and I started kissing my way down her neck and up to her ear as soon as we were forced to gasp for air.
“What did you want to tell me?” I teased her ear with my lips as I whispered into it.
“I…” One single word; followed by a sigh.
“You want to pick up where we left off on Saturday?” I kissed her neck and squeezed her ass. “Was that it?”
“Yes…” She nodded and moaned when I moved my hands to the front of her jeans.
I didn’t think that was really what she intended to say—but I wasn’t going to press for more, because I was scared it would pull her out of my arms. If she was doubting what we had, or letting her thoughts get in the way of something, then I needed to show her how much I had craved her touch—her lips—and her gorgeous curves. I pulled at her clothes as we made our way to the living room—slowly—with the passion getting stronger by the second. We left a trail of clothes on the way to the couch and she wasn’t wearing anything but her panties when she fell against the cushions—and I was on top of her in an instant.
“I didn’t get a taste of you—not like I wanted.” I exhaled sharply into her ear. “I’m going to pick up right where I left off.”
“Wait…” She moaned and squirmed underneath me. “I—I can’t stay that long.”
“It won’t take long.” I slid my hand into her panties and started rubbing her pussy. “You’re already so fucking wet…”
“Just—make love to me…” she moaned.
There was something left unsaid—a but that lingered on her lips but never passed across them. Her eyes betrayed her. I wanted her more than I wanted anything else in the world in that moment, but something was truly bothering her. I started to lift up—it was better to say what needed to be said rather than let it linger—but Taylor no longer wanted to talk. She grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me back down—her lips found mine, and I just let the concern fade away. Her kiss was filled with too much passion for the problem to be that serious—it could have been a million things, but only one of them mattered—she wanted me as much as I wanted her. I wrapped my fingers around her panties, stripped them off her hips, and she started furiously pulling at my clothes.
Whatever needs to be said can wait—obviously it’s not as important as the desire burning inside both of us.
“Those pictures were nice…” I squeezed her breasts, moved my hands down to her hips, and forced her legs apart. “But this is so much better.”
My shirt hit the floor, and I kicked off my pants as soon as she got them pushed past my hips. I grabbed the base of my cock, brought it to her wetness, and gently pushed my way inside her. Her pussy fit me like a glove—it was so fucking tight, but her body adjusted to me a lot faster than it did the last time we were together. A couple of gentle thrusts made her moan—a few more of those made her gasp—and then I was able to go deeper.
I silenced her next gasp with a kiss and started to thrust harder—it didn’t take many of those to bring our bodies together. She moaned against my lips as I began to ravage her mouth with my tongue, and my hips picked up speed. I finally had to pull away just to gasp for air, but my thrusts didn’t slow down. Her breathing got heavier, and she started to move her hips in unison with mine.
“You feel so fucking good—I missed you so much,” I leaned forward and growled into her ear. “You’re mine—nothing can change that.”
No words. No problems. Absolutely nothing. Whatever is bothering you—we can overcome it—just believe in what we have for one more night.
“Oh god…” She moaned louder, and her body began to shake. “You’re gonna make me come.”
“We may not have long—but I bet I can make you come a lot more than once.” I drove my dick as deep as possible and then started to hammer her pussy.
I knew every complication that could be bothering her—the ones that made sense at least. They were lingering in my thoughts too, and I wasn’t sure how we were going to get past them, but I was determined to find a way. She had done something to me—made me feel things that were practically forgotten before she walked into my life. Having her in my arms again confirmed what I already knew—letting her go was going to be impossible.
“Come for me,” I exhaled sharply into her ear. “You know you want to.”
“Yes!” She threw her head back and moaned.
Taylor’s pussy started to spasm, and I didn’t stop thrusting, even when the pleasure made my head spin. I wasn’t ready to let go—not yet. I wanted to see the bliss on her face and hear those sweet moans as she realized I could make her come as many times as I wanted. As soon as the first orgasm began to fade, and she was no longer shaking, I brought her to the edge of another one. It still wasn’t enough for me. The way she made me feel when she gave in was amazing—I wished I could get lost in that moment of euphoria forever. Nothing else mattered when we were together—all of those complications melted away as while we claimed the passion that existed solely for the two of us.
“Please…” Taylor dug her nails into my shoulders. “I want to feel you come.”
“Give me one more,” I growled into her ear. “Then you’ll get what you want.”
I was already struggling to hold back. I didn’t have the benefit of a release before I was inside her like the first time we were together. I wanted to see the bliss one more time before I erupted—even if I wanted to give in so bad my balls were starting to ache. I thrust my cock into her pussy and made sure I was hitting her g-spot every time I went deep. Her body began to shake, and I knew she was close—her head rolled back, and her mouth opened wide. I silenced her scream with a kiss before it could leave her lips and felt the orgasm rip through her. That was all I could handle—I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Oh fuck…” I pulled my lips away from hers and a primal roar echoed in my throat.
Taylor’s sweet orgasm made her pussy turn into my personal paradise as I began to come. A few quick thrusts made the cum surge through my shaft, and I unloaded my seed inside her. That was enough to make her taste bliss one more time, and the spasms milked me dry—I throbbed and pulsated until there was nothing left. My eruption sapped my strength and made my arms tremble. I pulled her close as I fell forward against the couch, and she was in my arms as I landed. Our lips met immediately, and a few tender kisses were shared as we let the afterglow of our passion take hold of us.
“I don’t want to wait until the weekend to see you again…” I stroked her hair and stared into those pale emerald eyes.
“I just—I don’t know…” She looked away.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” I tilted my head slightly. “It sounded serious—I just wanted you so bad I couldn’t hold back…”
I hope I erased whatever doubts she had—surely, she feels the connection that is forming between us.
“It was nothing.” She looked up at the ceiling. “I was just having an emotional moment.”
“Are you sure?” I tilted her chin until our eyes met again.
“Just hold me.” She refused to hold eye contact and snuggled into my arms with her head against my chest.
“Okay…” I nodded and sighed.
Something is still bothering her, but she doesn’t want to tell me what it is…
Taylor and I stayed tangled in our embrace for a couple of hours before she had to leave. I really didn’t want her to go—especially if something was left unsa
id—but she wasn’t ready to talk about it. The passion we shared was intense, and I hoped that the lingering concerns she had faded while she was in my arms. I had no way to confirm it, but some of the dismay seemed to have faded from her eyes when she left. I wished I could read her thoughts—or maybe I didn’t have to—maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see when the harsh realities were right in front of my face. I didn’t want to admit them to myself, because that was a road we couldn’t come back from—it was laced with treachery and danger.
If this is going to work, we can’t dance around the inevitable forever. Victoria may not understand, but I can’t deny my feelings—and I don’t want to hide what we have or lie about it.
* * *
The next day
I woke up in bed alone like I had every single day since my divorce. I hated it at first, but I got used to it as time confirmed our marriage was truly over. I didn’t want my bed to be empty anymore when the sun peeked over the clouds. I wanted to see Taylor’s gorgeous curves beside me—say good morning with a kiss—and find a way to get past the complications that she was hesitant to discuss. I didn’t know how we were going to do that, but there had to be an answer to the question we were both hiding from.
It’s not fair to have a heart beating in my chest if I can’t share it with someone else—and I’ve finally found someone that could very well claim it if we can both find a way to give in.
I spent my morning tending to a few investments, reviewing several accounts that needed my attention, and meeting with my clients. I stared at my calendar after lunch and noticed Cassie had added an appointment in the afternoon that wasn’t there when I started my day. It was with Jon—and I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy one. My team had been working on his account for two days, and there was no way to easily fix his problem. He could save his company and still give his wife a good settlement in the divorce, but it would shred his finances to pieces. It would require him to start over, and it was a terrible option. Selling the company was the smartest move, but I knew he wouldn’t be happy to hear that. Nothing about the situation was fair, and I was going to have to give him the bad news when he arrived.
“Mr. Benson.” Cassie pushed my door open. “Mr. Alcott is here.”
He’s early—apparently, he doesn’t want to wait to find out how bad it really is…
“Send him in.” I stood up from my desk and walked over to pour a drink—he was going to need it.
“Yes sir.” Cassie nodded and closed the door.
Fuck, there has to be a better way…
“I’m sorry I showed up early.” Jon pushed my door open less than a minute after Cassie closed it.
“No problem.” I handed him the drink as soon as he walked in. “Let’s talk.”
“What is there to talk about?” He sat down with a thud. “I already know I’m fucked…”
“I’m sorry, Jon.” I sat down behind my desk and sighed.
“I got the notice this morning—the only way to keep my company is to go to trial and try to get a judge to enforce the original agreement.” He took a gulp of his drink. “My lawyer says the chances of that happening are pretty fucking low.”
“You still have to fight.” I narrowed my eyes. “You can’t give up.”
“It’s a fight that I won’t win, no matter what.” He took another drink. “The people I do business with? The blood will be in the water the instant they realize I may have to sell the company—distribution is a volatile business and if they think their sources might get compromised, they’ll find someone else to handle their account.”
“I’m sure your customers will be loyal…” I shook my head back and forth.
“If things are certain? Sure.” He nodded. “But they don’t know what will happen if someone buys the company. Hell, I don’t even know myself. The new owner could raise prices, negotiate contracts with their competitors—all of the stuff I would never do.”
“Fuck it.” I leaned forward. “I’ll buy Alcott Inc. Tell your lawyer to draw up the agreement.”
“What?” Jon blinked in surprise.
I can’t watch my best friend wallow in his own grief—nor can I stomach the thought of him losing everything.
“You’ll stay on as CEO. Nothing will change. You can settle with your ex-wife, and then you can buy the company back from me with the profits you make.” I nodded quickly.
“Fuck man, I can’t ask you to do that.” He drained his glass and shook his head. “You have too much going on with Benson Enterprises.”
“I trust you, Jon. I won’t be involved with the company at all. It’s basically a loan.” I stood up and walked over to grab the whiskey so I could refill his glass.
Jon was practically brought to tears when he realized that I was serious. A handshake didn’t make it official, but it did for me. Jon promised to have his lawyer get the paperwork together and clear the sale with his wife’s new counsel. I doubted there would be any issues—she just wanted the money and didn’t care where it came from.
I didn’t have any meetings scheduled after Jon, so I was alone in my office once he was gone. I sent a couple of messages to Taylor to see if she would be able to see me, but she had too much going on with school. If I couldn’t see her, the best thing to do was get some work done—especially since I was planning to buy Alcott Inc. I crunched a few numbers and realized that the purchase was going to stretch me thin. It wasn’t enough to hurt, but I wouldn’t be buying a Yacht anytime soon—not that I really had any intention of doing that anyway.
Jon doesn’t deserve to lose everything he’s worked for. Maybe this will take some sting out of the divorce and help him find a way to start healing—it’s the least I can do.
Chapter Fifteen
Taylor
The next day
I should have ended things with Bryant. I went to his house with every intention of doing it, but I couldn’t make myself say the words that needed to be said. I got lost in his stare—consumed by his touch—and as soon as he kissed me, the only place I wanted to be was in his arms. The last thing I should have done was melt into his embrace and have sex with him—that wasn’t fair when I knew the relationship had to end.
Focusing on school with everything else tumbling around in my head was difficult. My first couple of classes just turned into a blur. Thankfully, the information my professors were relaying came straight out of my textbooks, so I could look over it at home when I had a little more clarity—not that I thought there was going to be a switch I could flip and get it. The only way I was going to be able to find peace was to do what was so damn difficult—and I couldn’t keep delaying it if Victoria was planning to come home—especially if she wanted her parents to put aside their difference and reconcile. I had no idea if Bryant would go for it, but I didn’t want to be the reason that he wasn’t willing to consider it.
“You look like you’re a million miles away.” Melanie walked up to me in the hallway and gave me a nudge.
“Oh? Yeah…” I turned towards her. “I was just thinking about school stuff.”
“Maybe my grades would be better if I stood in the hallway and daydreamed about my classes.” She shook her head and laughed.
What the hell? Is that…why is she at my school?
“Uh…” I took a step to the side and motioned to the woman that was talking to one of the professors at Carson Cove University. “Why is Alexis Devereaux here?”
“Oh, her?” Melanie looked over her shoulder and shrugged. “She was invited by the dean to give a speech to some of the first-year students about being a successful woman in business—I guess you could call it a pep talk or something.”
“What does she know about being a successful woman in business?” My words left my lips before I even thought about it.
Unless she opened her speech by telling them to marry a guy with a lot of money—and a successful company.
“You’d be surprised.” Melanie turned back towards me. “There was a girl in
one of my marketing classes who was upset that they didn’t let seniors attend the speech. She said her dad used to work for Devereaux Properties and Alexis was the one calling the shots—she called her an inspiration.”
“Weird…” I shifted again when Alexis looked down the hallway, just to make sure she didn’t spot me.
“I guess people don’t talk about it much, but she said Alexis’ brother is a gambler and an alcoholic—the company would have gone under years ago if it wasn’t for her.” Melanie shrugged again. “Why do you care anyway?”
“Just curious…” I leaned against the wall. “I grew up in Carson Cove—I’ve never heard of anyone clamoring for advice from the Devereaux family—not about business anyway.”
I didn’t have time to ponder it in the hallway—I needed to get to class. Thankfully, I was going in the opposite direction of Alexis. I knew the history of the Devereaux family—they were usually the talk of Carson Cove. I never had a face for their matriarch until I saw her at the art show. Her marriages usually started or ended with a scandal. Bryant had told me some things about her—and her last husband. I couldn’t believe Carson Cove University would bring her in to talk to the first-year students about being successful when her last marriage turned her into a pariah. There had to be students sitting there with families that suffered because of the horrible things Sawyer King did—and Alexis was by his side while he did most of them.
Forbidden Kiss: Carson Cove Scandals Page 12