He pulled from her mouth and kissed and suckled her neck and shoulder.
“Damn, Tasha, you smell and taste so good. I’ve been wanting to kiss you for so long,” he confessed and it fed her hunger. She ran her hands up and down the muscles on his forearms and then his upper arms to his chest.
He kissed her again, lifted her up, and placed her onto the counter. As he pressed between her thighs, she cringed, pulling from his mouth.
Reality came crashing back in a flash. Her inner thighs were still sore and slightly bruised from that night Dash pressed hard between them with his thigh.
“Are you okay?” He caressed her thighs. She shoved his hands away and pushed down off the counter.
“Oh God, Lance, we shouldn’t have done that.” Even when the words left her lips, she didn’t mean them, and it hurt to say them.
He pulled her back against his chest. He placed his hands against her cheeks and stared down into her eyes. She swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat and prayed she wouldn’t cry, she wouldn’t break down and tell him what was going on. She wished this kiss happened weeks ago, months ago, but it didn’t and now she couldn’t act upon it.
“You’re shaking. What’s wrong? Did I scare you?”
She shook her head and covered his hands with hers.
“Please, Lance, I think you need to leave.”
His eyes widened. Sweet, compassionate Lance stared at her as if trying to read her mind. She lowered her head.
“Hey, hey, baby, it’s okay. That guy from the other night, the one you mentioned, really scared you, didn’t he?” he asked.
Holy shit.
“Lance, please.” She tried pulling away. He slowly released her and held her hand so she couldn’t go far.
“Did you report that guy? Did you contact Jake?”
“No, that isn’t necessary. “
“I think otherwise. If he scared you this much and hurt you.” Lance stopped, looked down at her, and then squinted his eyes. “You cringed when I pressed between your open thighs. What the fuck more happened?” he challenged her.
“Stop, Lance. It isn’t any of your business. It’s done and over with.”
“Fuck that. Did he try to force himself on you?”
“No, God, please just stop questioning me. What is this shit? You’ve never cared to ask me anything before. Hell, you’ve never even given me the time of day.”
“That’s not true. You’re our sister’s best friend,” he said, making her heart sink further and verifying that she was just an easy target for a kiss, for Lance’s seduction.
“Leave, Lance. Don’t ever kiss me like that again. I get it.” She pulled away and walked toward her door.
“That didn’t come out right. I meant to say that I haven’t acted on my attraction to you because you’re Serefina’s best friend. We’ve known you for years. We’re so much older than you.”
“You’re not making a strong case, you’re making my suggestion that you leave an even better idea. Please just get out. No one will know about the kiss.”
“Fuck, Tasha, why do you have to be like this? Why do you push away and hide behind some tough-girl attitude? I’m coming clean here on my feelings and you’re shutting me out. I know this guy hurt you.”
“You don’t know anything. It’s over, I can take care of myself. Please just leave, Lance. I’m not going to be one of your little fire buff fuck partners.”
His eyes widened at her tone and her reference. She knew it was harsh, but she couldn’t face him, this or her feelings for him right now. It was the worse freaking timing ever.
“This isn’t over,” he stated firmly.
“Yes, it is.” She opened her door and he left. The moment the door closed she released an uneasy breath, feeling so confused and angry besides heartbroken. Why now, why after months and months of nothing, did Lance have to come on to her tonight? Tasha reached for the flowers and looked at the small card. The top said, “My girl.”
“Asshole.” She opened up the envelope and read the card.
I’m coming for you soon. Be ready to please me.
* * * *
Lance was filled with piss and vinegar as he headed down to his car. He looked around as he thought he heard something, his instincts kicking in as he felt as if someone was watching him.
The creepy feeling didn’t sit right at all, but he dismissed it as he got into the car, started the engine, and reversed out of the parking lot. He pulled out his cell and called his brother Eddie.
“This has to end. We need to come clean with her.” He explained what went down.
“You think the guy she mentioned did more than hurt her wrists?” Eddie asked him.
Lance told him about the kiss and about how she cringed in pain as he pressed against her inner thighs.
“What the fuck? You think this guy tried to force himself on her?”
“If it was more and he did something sexual, there is no way that Serefina would let Tasha not report it. I think more happened and since Tasha isn’t willing to tell us, then maybe Serefina will.”
“They’re best friends, Lance. If Tasha swore Serefina to secrecy, then she won’t tell us.”
“But she’ll tell Ice, Ace, and Bull. Talk to Ice and Ace before you leave. I’ll meet you at home.”
As Lance disconnected the call, he saw the headlights come up behind his car fast. The person was definitely speeding. As he slowed down before the end of the block, the car came up on his left side and swerved toward him, causing Lance to jerk the wheel to the right and hit the curb. His tire popped and the car sped off.
“Fucking asshole!” He tried to see the make of the car or license plate. He parked the car, got out and saw the damage. “Son of a bitch.” He pulled out his cell phone and called Eddie back.
What a way to end a fucking shitty night.
Chapter 4
“I’m not talking to you, Melanie. I’m at work,” Tasha told her cousin as she whispered into the phone.
She was so upset after she had spoken to Serefina this morning and found out about someone running Lance off the road. She couldn’t help but think Dash had something to do with that.
“Call me as soon as you get out. It’s important,” Melanie told her. Tasha disconnected the call. For the next thirty minutes she tried to focus on her work. Surprisingly she accomplished what she needed to. It was Friday night, and everyone was going to the Station. Serefina called and said she would be there and that she wanted her to come hang out instead of staying home all alone worrying. She knew what Serefina was thinking, and that was if Tasha stayed around the guys in the fire departments and Serefina’s brothers plus Serefina’s men, then Tasha would be safe. But Serefina didn’t know about Lance’s kiss. She didn’t know that it was Dash who ran him off the road. Tasha did. Plus, Serefina’s men were concerned and questioned her. Thank goodness Serefina hadn’t told Ice, Bull, and Ace the truth.
Maybe going there tonight was the best thing to do because it would ease Serefina’s mind, get Ice, Ace, Bull, Lance, Eddie, and Tyler off both their cases, and it would help Tasha relax. Her mom was still recovering from the treatment Thursday and next week they would know if she needed another surgery or not. There were bills to pay and things more concerning that her mind was focused on. So why she kept thinking about Lance’s kiss most of all was unnerving.
Tasha thought about that kiss all last night. She couldn’t sleep, she woke up thinking he was there touching her, making love to her along with Eddie and Tyler. It was obscene how much she wanted to be their woman, and to feel loved and safe. But the reality was, she couldn’t act on that attraction. Not now, and especially not if Dash knew about Lance bringing her home last night and that he was the one to run Lance off the road. What if Lance was hurt, or worse, killed. Serefina would never forgive her. Hell, Tasha would never forgive herself, if she caused something to happen to the three of them or her other friends. She had to stand her ground. Tasha would handle this. She would
let Dash know that he needed to leave her alone or she would indeed call the police.
It was after six when she finally got out of work. She was tired, but thinking about hanging out with Serefina and the gang made her smile.
She unlocked her doors and opened the back door to place her briefcase on the backseat. She heard a car pull up alongside her. A fancy sports car, some kind of Maserati in black with dark tinted windows.
She swallowed hard as the passenger-side window rolled down. He leaned over from the driver’s seat to talk to her. Dash looked important with his dark sunglasses and designer black suit with the burgundy tie.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” He pulled off his sunglasses.
She stared at him, at his large hands gripping the steering wheel, and at his pinky ring, all diamonds in a thick chunky gold which shimmered against the sunlight that streamed into the open window.
“I don’t have anything to say to you, Dash.” She turned to move when he raised his voice.
“Tasha!”
She couldn’t believe how intimidated she was by this man. He scared her. She didn’t want to die. Hell, she didn’t want trouble like this. If there were police involved she hoped they were here watching right now. She should have called Melanie back sooner. She turned around to face Dash as she slightly bent to look into the car.
He stared at her.
“Where are you going? We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t. I have nothing to say to you except that I’m not interested. Please just leave me alone.”
“Well, I have something to ask you.”
He opened his car door and she stepped back as he got out and walked around the back of his car to the passenger side, where she stood. Frozen in place. As he got out, she got a good look at the man. He was in designer everything from tie to shoes.
He crossed his arms in front of his large chest. He was well built in the custom-tailored suit, and his dark hair and dark eyes made him look like a man one shouldn’t mess with. She swallowed hard. If she didn’t know how much of an asshole he was, she surely would have found him attractive. But that wasn’t the case. She wanted nothing to do with him.
He stepped closer but kept his arms crossed in front of his chest. She stepped back and her ass hit the door of her car.
“I don’t want any trouble,” she whispered.
“Then I guess you should have thought about that before you asked that fireman into your apartment last night.”
She gasped. Lance. Oh God, it definitely was Dash who ran Lance off the road. I can’t believe this is happening to me.
“You’re going to learn the hard way, aren’t you, Tasha?”
She just stared at him, her heart racing.
He uncrossed his arms and pressed a hand against the car next to her hip. She gasped and stared up at him.
“Are you fucking him?”
“No.”
He reached up with his other hand and pretended to fix the collar of the black Ann Taylor one-piece dress she wore to work today.
“If you’re lying to me, or if you are involved with him, it won’t be pretty.”
“I’m not. He’s a friend. My best friend’s brother.”
“Why did he bring you home last night? Where were you?”
“Why don’t you tell me since you know so much,” she snapped at him, and he gripped her chin, making her gasp. His other hand squeezed her hip bone and she cringed from the pain.
“Don’t be a smart-ass and test me any further. I’ve been lenient with you, but things are going to change. I have some business I’m working on and it’s kept me busy. Soon I’ll only focus on you.”
“I don’t know why you’re doing this. I’m not interested in dating you.”
He smirked and pressed his body against hers. “Sweet, baby, you don’t know what you want. But I do. You’re going to learn to do as I say. Now, I want you to go home, and stay there.”
“I have plans tonight.”
His expression darkened as he clenched his teeth. “I’ll tell you what plans you have or don’t have. Melanie is going to pick you up and bring you somewhere. James will keep an eye on you and make sure no other men come sniffing around what’s mine.”
“I’m not yours. Why do you keep saying that? Why can’t you leave me alone?” She tried to step from his hold. He pressed against her hard, leaning his right side firmer against her ribs. She felt the revolver. Her eyes widened.
“You have no idea who I am and what I’m capable of.”
Tasha was scared. She was in way over her head, and all she kept thinking about was what Melanie told her in the car about James. He pushed and pushed until Melanie gave in to his demands, and now James owned her. The same thing would happen to Tasha if she wasn’t smart, if she didn’t find a way out of this.
“I’m not Melanie. I have a life, a career, friends, family, and plans for my future. You can’t just come into my life and take those things from me and expect me to not fight you on it. I don’t even know you, Dash. Leave me alone and find someone else.” She felt the tears fill her eyes. She tried to remain courageous, despite the feeling of hard metal against her ribs. She was trying to talk to a madman with a gun. Who the hell was this guy?
He reached up and caressed his knuckles against her skin as he looked down into her eyes.
“Sweet baby, I’m not trying to take those things from you. I’m going to take very good care of you, and give you more than this mediocre job of yours, more than any stupid blue-collar worker could ever provide for such a special woman like yourself. I can even take care of your mom. Your life is about to change. You’re my girl now. There’s no negotiating. Tonight, you stay at your apartment until Melanie comes to get you. If I get out of my meeting early, then I expect you to be where I told Melanie to take you.” He caressed her skin again, running his knuckles back and forth against her cheek and then firmer against her chin where his fingers paused.
“Or else Melanie is going to suffer.”
He gave a slick smile. Her stomach felt as if it fell to her feet. Now Melanie was going to get hurt next. He even knew about her mother.
“Now, close your eyes, and do as I say.”
Her eyes widened, and the expression on his face hardened. She could see his cheeks cave in as if he were biting the inside of them.
“Close them now.” He pressed his hip harder against her causing the gun to stick into her rib cage. She gasped and closed her eyes just as his hand came up and against her shoulder.
“Please don’t hurt me,” she whispered, heart racing, voice shaking in fear.
He ran his thumb up and down her throat and she swallowed hard.
“Hurt you? Only if you don’t listen and obey. I can feel your defiance, Tasha. You have a fire in you that needs containing.” His thumb ran up and down her throat as his lips whispered close to her own lips. She knew he was going to kiss her, and there was nothing she could do about it.
“You’re so very lovely. I don’t like this dress on you. You deserve the best.” She gasped as his right hand moved up her ribs and cupped her breasts.
“Please don’t,” she said, and he squeezed harder, his lips against her neck now.
“These are mine. You’re mine.” He moved his other hand up to her throat, then over her neck and shoulder to the base of her head. His lips came down onto hers softly. He took his time tasting her, and she felt the tears roll down her cheeks. Her body shook with intense fear and she knew in that moment that she lost any possible control of this situation.
Dash released her lips and then pulled her against him.
“You’re so very special. Wrap your arms around me. Hug me, Tasha, don’t make me ask twice.” His hold was firm. He was so freaking big, so strong and crazy, she did as he told her and hugged him. His hand roamed down her waist to her lower back as he pulled her away from the car. When he squeezed her ass and gripped her to him, thrusting his hips, his erection against her belly, she muzzled her cry again
st his tailored suit. The stench of his pungent cologne, mixed with cigar smoke assaulted her senses.
“That’s my girl. Now, I need to get going.”
He pulled slightly back and cupped her face between his hands. She knew that her cheeks were tear streaked. She knew she looked scared and defeated. She just wanted him away from her, and for him to stop touching her.
“Do as I say. I’ll see you later if all goes well with my meeting.”
He stepped back.
She stared up at him thinking how this good-looking man was so evil and manipulative. How the hell did things get so wrong so fast?
“Get in the car, Tasha. I want to be sure that you get home safely.”
She pulled open the door. Her legs felt like rubber, and her hands were shaking as she started the ignition. She jerked when she heard him tap on the window with his knuckle. She hit the button and the window rolled down.
He reached inside, moved her seatbelt into position. “Safety first,” he said, and kissed her lips as he buckled her in. He placed his large, hard hand against her cheek and she cringed just thinking that this man could seriously hurt her if she defied him.
“I’ll call you later. Be sure to answer your cell.”
He signaled for her to reverse out of the spot. She slowly pulled from the parking lot, watching him get into his car and pull out next. As she headed onto the highway, she turned right, but saw in her rearview mirror that he turned left. She gripped the steering wheel and released a hard gasp she hadn’t known she had been holding. Tears streamed from her eyes. His cologne lingered on her and in her car.
Hearts on Fire 3: Tasha (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 6