Derrick’s face became a mask of semi controlled fury. His right hand raked through his hair, pushing it all over. He was trying to choose his words, trying not to lose his temper. “There are people out there who might want to hurt you,” Derrick said.
“I know, Derrick. I know they will do crazy stuff to get at me to get pictures—”
“Taylor, people threaten your life on a daily basis.”
“I know that too, Derrick,” Taylor said calmly. “I have seen the social media posts that get deleted, I have heard about the letters that come in, and the phone calls and messages to the general voice mail of Preston Corp. I have had long, long meetings with Henry, I have had calls traced and the validity of the threats traced. I am a public figure, I am a leader, and I am making decisions and changes that not everyone is going to like. But I am handling it.”
“How did you know all that?”
“Because I caught sight of something and talked to Henry, who said it was a regular thing. And when I had him look into it, he found out that Todd and Charlie knew.”
Derrick’s face was now a mask of hurt. “Why didn’t you come to me? Or tell me?”
“Because you would try to shelter me, Derrick! You treat me like I am going to break, like a china doll, in every aspect of our life, and I have had it!”
“Taylor,” Derrick said softly, crossing the room to her. “I searched and wished and waited, and finally, finally you are here,” he said, reaching his hand up to touch her face. “I can’t knowingly put you in harm’s way. I love you,” he said staring into her eyes. “I need to keep you safe.”
Taylor took a step back, letting Derrick’s hand fall. “I am not a fragile little creature you need to protect, Derrick,” she hissed to him. “Stop trying to go easy on me! Jesus!” she said, spinning around and wiping her eyes. She just wanted him to help her get through it, not shelter her from the world that she lived in.
As Taylor wiped her eyes, she felt warmth on her back and then Derrick’s arms went around her. When she opened her eyes, the bouquet of tulips was in front of her. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I haven’t helped you face all your fears and be in charge like I told you I would. I am sorry that I haven’t been your supporter like I am supposed to be and have tried to hide you away and keep things from you,” Derrick put his lips to Taylor’s temple. “From now on, I will let you make your decisions, but I will always tell you how I feel and what I think because I want to be honest with you. I promise I will help you face all your fears and be there for you, even if it scares me too.”
Taylor’s face was again covered in tears. “We are supposed to be a team,” she whispered to him.
“I know. I was wrong, and I’m sorry. I love you, Taylor. I just don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Things might hurt, but I just need you to be there with me, to help me through them.”
“I get it,” he said, nodding against her head.
“Please stop treating me like I am weak or breakable.”
“I swear.”
“Not just in the outside world,” Taylor said. She took a deep breath. “But with us, when we are together,” she stammered. Derrick spun Taylor around, but she averted her eyes to the floor.
“What does that mean?” Derrick asked her, and she was so glad he didn’t try to make her look at him.
She had wanted to say something for a while but wasn’t sure how to do it. “When we, uh, are together, I feel like you, well since the first time, like you are so gentle, and—”
Now Derrick pulled Taylor’s chin up. “I was so rough the first time.”
“You were passionate,” Taylor said softly. “And now,” her gaze fell again, “it’s like you think I am damaged, and you don’t want to break me.”
“I just don’t want to h—”
“Hurt me?” Taylor asked, meeting his eyes. This conversation was getting old, she thought as she shook her head. She had been brave enough to bring it up, and here he was brushing it off. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy being with Derrick. She had nothing to compare it to, but the sex was great. But she wanted him to lose control like he had that first night, just forget everything else but being with her and not worry about her getting hurt or scared.
Taylor turned out of Derrick’s arms. “Look, I have a lot of work—”
Derrick spun Taylor back around and cut her off by covering her mouth with his. Taylor resisted at first in surprise, but when Derrick threaded his hand in her hair and pulled her into him, she gave in.
This was what she was looking for, for him to unleash everything he felt on her. That first night she had felt it, felt his need, felt wanted, but once he realized she was inexperienced he had gone slow with her. She began to wonder if he wasn’t as interested in her, or if her lack of experience was a turnoff for him. But the way he was kissing her now, it didn’t seem to be the case.
Derrick pushed Taylor backward, broke the kiss, and swept the desk clear. He then placed a gasping Taylor on the cleared surface flat on her back. Derrick crushed his mouth onto Taylor’s again as he wrenched off his suit jacket, and Taylor untied his tie. Once the jacket was gone, Derrick pushed Taylor’s skirt up to her hips and reached for her thong, but her garters were in the way of his progress.
Derrick looked down, and his eyes widened as he took in what was causing the delay. “That is fucking hot,” he ground out, running his fingers across the straps and Taylor’s thighs. Derrick licked his lips and wrapped his hands around either side of the thong and then pulled. A tearing sound filled the air, and there was pressure on Taylor’s clit as the fabric was pulled taut. Then it released, leaving Taylor wanting more.
She lifted her head from the desk to look at Derrick, but he clamped his hands on the inside of her thighs, pushing them down to the side, and dropped to his knees and placed his mouth right on Taylor’s core. Taylor’s head fell back to the desk as she absorbed the feel of Derrick’s mouth on her. His tongue circled her clit, and Taylor felt dizzy from the new sensation. It felt shocking and amazing. When Derrick put his tongue directly onto Taylor’s clit, she bowed off the desk.
“Derrick,” she moaned as she fell back, and he continued to use his tongue on her. Waves of pleasure flexed through her, and he increased, decreased, and moved the pressure over her. Taylor rocked her hips up to meet Derrick’s mouth. She was close to going to an orgasm euphoria, but she needed more.
Derrick lifted his mouth from her, causing Taylor to make a noise of protest. He slid a hand from her thigh to her lips, then her clit, and then down and up, sliding and teasing her, which had Taylor panting. Finally Derrick trailed his fingers down again and slid one finger inside Taylor, curling it as he moved within her and then placed his mouth back over her clit and sucked.
Warmth spread through Taylor’s limbs as an orgasm shot through her and shook her over the edge. Taylor slumped against the desk as after shakes moved through her. She felt spent, like she had just run a marathon.
Derrick slid up her body, sealed his mouth to hers and put his hands to the front of her button-down. He pulled, sending buttons flying. Taylor gasped, breaking the kiss. She was about to look down when Derrick quickly picked her up and flipped her onto her stomach and then pulled her back to him, leaving only her chest on the tabletop.
The position was odd to Taylor, but she didn’t have a chance to think about it because Derrick took a finger and started stroking her. He started at her clit and moved easily back to her entry, sliding a finger in. He continued the movement, quickening his pace, adding another finger, and stopping over her clit for a little longer to tease her. Taylor’s head spun as Derrick played with her. Her breath came fast. “Derrick, please,” she pleaded, needing more, all the sensations in her body plucked to the point of no return.
Derrick didn’t stop, though. He leaned his chest over her back and whispered in her ear, “What do you need, Taylor?” as his finger slid just to the side of her clit, avoiding contact and forcing a moan out of Taylor.
“You. Please, Derrick,” she whispered back, blushing a little at the neediness in her voice.
When Taylor felt the head of Derrick’s cock at her entrance, she whimpered. “Is this what you need, Tay?” he asked as he nudged inside of her just a little and then stopped.
Taylor nodded and turned her face to the side. She pushed her hips back to try and feel him again.
“Say it, Taylor,” Derrick commanded, his voice at her ear. “Tell me you want me.”
“Derrick,” she panted. “Derrick, I … I need you. Please,” she begged.
Derrick growled as he slammed inside of her, and Taylor called out at the sudden fullness. Derrick slid his hands under her chest and pulled them up together. “Put your hands on the desk,” he ordered Taylor, and she did what he asked instantly. She didn’t want anything to come in the way of her getting the release she so desperately needed.
Once Taylor was supported, Derrick put a hand in her hair and twisted her head around so he could kiss her as he repetitively slammed in to her. The pace was hurried, full of need, and it was exactly what Taylor had been looking for.
Derrick broke the rough kiss, laying his head in the nape of Taylor’s neck. “Fuck,” he muttered and slid his free hand over Taylor’s clit, rubbing fast and hard to match his thrusting rhythm. His fingers had no gentle stroke or caress to them, they were moving on Taylor hard, and the feel of him working her over and losing himself in her was sending her into a fantasy land. Taylor curled her fingers against the wood of the desk, losing her breath and ready for the burning to turn into an explosion.
Derrick tugged her head back again and sucked on her neck, and Taylor’s arms collapsed as another orgasm washed over her.
“Taylor,” Derrick grunted as his rhythm turned frenzied, his breathing loud and fast. Suddenly he pulled Taylor’s hips into his and shook with his own release, collapsing onto Taylor on the desk.
They lay together for just a few moments before Derrick lifted himself, and Taylor was grateful because she could barely breathe with his weight on top of her. She heard his zipper, and then Derrick pulled her back and into his lap as he sat in the desk chair for them to recover.
“Why in the hell would you hold all of that back?” Taylor asked, still panting as she sat with her back to Derrick’s chest.
“I was worried it would be too much too soon,” Derrick said between breaths.
Taylor nodded. “Because I’m too fragile?” she asked, no longer angry like she was before but more to prove her point.
Derrick spun Taylor in his lap so she could see him. “I’m sorry,” he said as his chocolate stare met hers. “You’re right. I was treating you like you were delicate, like you couldn’t handle any of this.” His gaze darted around as he searched for what to say next, and then his eyes landed back on hers. “I hurt you, and you pushed me out. I earned it, but I put a lot on you, and it broke your trust in me. I don’t want to do anything to shake what we have built up now.”
Taylor pursed her lips at him, “I need to know you believe I can really handle all this. And not just the business either, but all the shit that comes with our life. I get that we live in the public eye, and there is stuff that goes along with that, which I can’t control. You can’t control it either, though, and I need you to stop trying to shield me from it all.”
“I do know you can handle it. You are so strong, Taylor, but—”
Taylor put a finger over his lips. “No buts,” she said sternly.
Derrick kissed her finger and took it down. “Just one but,” he said smiling at her. “But, I am your husband, and I love you more than anything or anyone, so I cannot promise I won’t do whatever I can to take care of you, to keep you safe. I need to take care of you, Taylor, but I will promise to try and understand where you are coming from when I do it.”
Taylor’s heart beat a little faster after his proclamation. “I won’t break, Derrick,” she whispered, putting a hand to his cheek and rubbing her thumb over his five o’clock shadow.
Derrick gave her a little nod. “I know you won’t break, Taylor, but I will if something happens to you and I didn’t try to prevent it.”
Taylor didn’t have an answer for that. “Just please trust me.”
“I promise to not hold back from you, to not keep things hidden.”
“That’s all I want,” she said. “Well, that and more sex like this,” she added.
Derrick smiled his megawatt smile, dimples and all, and kissed her. “Let’s eat and then try it again.”
“I don’t think we can top that,” Taylor said, confidently pointing to the desk.
“Oh but, Taylor, practice makes perfect, and it is so much fun.”
* * *
The next morning Derrick and Taylor were riding to work together, talking about the day ahead of them. Taylor was relaxed; she loved the new routine they had together, and she was starting to really enjoy her life for the first time in … well, who knew how long?
Suddenly the brakes were jammed.
“Uuuuph,” Taylor said as her seat belt snapped against her chest.
“What the hell,” was Derrick’s response.
“Shit,” was Henry’s.
Taylor looked ahead and saw the street completely blocked off with a crowd of people: news crews, paparazzi, and everyday joes with cell phones in hand were all banded together.
Taylor looked at Derrick. “Well, wanna just get it over with?”
Derrick looked at Taylor in horror. “Please tell me you are not thinking of going out there?”
Taylor raised her brows at him. “You got a better idea?”
“That is a bad idea,” Henry said.
“See?” Derrick said, pointing at him.
Taylor took a deep, irritated sigh. “Look, they want to see us. They have been dying to see us together. Let’s just get it over with!”
“Taylor, this is crazy, you can’t just—”
“Okay, I’m done,” Taylor informed everyone in the car. She opened her door and slid out. The other doors opened rapidly in succession, and then Taylor, Derrick, Henry, and Luke were walking toward their offices. Taylor grabbed Derrick’s hand and held on tight. This situation terrified her, and she was sick of it. She was tired of being scared of things, especially when she had been starting to relax with almost every other part of her life.
“Are you sure you want this?” Derrick asked. They were still yards away from the crowd outside Preston Corporation, so she knew he was still giving her an out, but she wasn’t going to bite.
“No, I don’t want to do this, but it is an inevitable part of our life,” she answered, feeling the butterflies come up her throat as they approached the crowd.
Somewhere in the crowd there was a shout, and then the whole group was turning toward them. In seconds they were rushed. Taylor tried to keep herself steady, head held high and just kept walking with Derrick by her side. But steadily the flashes and shouting and pushing increased until Taylor was encased by her male security team. It was suffocating. It wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be, nope.
It was worse.
This had been a very bad idea, and her throat burned as she swallowed down regret. She wanted to shrink away and get the hell out of there.
But then she remembered something: she was in charge.
Taylor came to a stop. “That is enough!” she shouted.
Everything and everyone stopped around her. The quiet was an eerie change from the chaos that had reigned only a moment before, and Taylor realized she needed to take advantage of it quickly.
“I get you all want a picture,” she announced in a booming voice. “But is this the one you want? Us mushed between bodyguards? I bet no, and someone is going to get hurt. If everyone backs off and gives us some space so we can continue on to work, Derrick and I will pose for a few shots,” she looked to Derrick. “Is that okay with you?”
Derrick nodded. “Sounds fair,” he agreed.
“Cool, Henry?�
�� she asked her bodyguard, who was beyond his stress threshold, which was obvious by the fire-engine red color of his neck and face. He gave Taylor a quick nod as he kept scanning the crowd.
“All right then. Now if everyone will back up, please, we will pose on the sidewalk here,” Taylor announced, and shockingly they all moved—in a pretty organized fashion, to boot.
Derrick and Taylor made their way up onto the sidewalk, Derrick slid his arm around her, and they turned to the waiting photographers. Taylor smiled at the cheers and the voices calling their names. People offered congratulations and asked about babies and ring carats, but they answered nothing.
After a while, Derrick leaned down to her ear and said, “I guess you really are in charge.”
Taylor turned to him, smiling. “And don’t you forget it,” she said back to him.
“Kiss her!” someone shouted from the crowd, and Derrick grinned.
“You got it!” he shouted back and dipped Taylor, kissing her full on the mouth. The shouts were deafening. Derrick brought her upright and smiled at her. Taylor was forced to wipe lipstick from his lips, or the rumors would be epic.
“I think that was enough, don’t you?” Taylor asked
“Yeah, and if we don’t go soon, Henry might explode,” Derrick informed Taylor. She looked over to see her redheaded security’s skin a lovely shade of rose red now.
“Okay, hi ho hi ho,” she said, took Derrick’s hand, and walked toward the Preston Corp. entrance. There were a few jeers, but their space was respected the rest of the way.
Another fear conquered, Taylor mused. Things were looking up, way up.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
When Marty put her mind to something, there was no stopping her.
Her parents’ wedding anniversary was six weeks after Simon left this world, and she was determined that his last wish of a charity event be held on that day. Taylor had been so worried about Marty and her uncharacteristically sad face following her father’s death. She was so worried the despair would swallow her, but as Marty threw herself into planning and ran around non stop talking about linens, décor, raffles, and the guest list, she became the full-of-life girl Taylor loved. It was a star-studded event, and Marty was making sure it was bigger than anything ever done.
Inevitable Inheritance: The Inevitable Series | Book One Page 31