by J. C. Grant
“Yeah?” His gaze held mine.
I nodded.
He thrust deep, forcing a cry from me.
“Don’t stop.”
“Oh, fuck, sweet girl,” he groaned.
A few rough thrusts and my body responded, flooding, making his cock slick with each stroke. Our bodies melted together. Him pushing into me slowly, sweetly, until things turned rough.
*****
I woke up in bed alone. It seemed, even at my house, David wanted to keep our schedule. I dug through my bags and found a baggy T-shirt, bra, and a pair of lounge pants and quickly dressed, putting my hair into a topknot before making my way into the kitchen.
David had already made coffee and someone had gone for takeout, there were several containers covering the counters.
“Hey, babe.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing a kiss to his bare back. His hand smoothed over my forearms.
“Morning, sweetheart.” His deep voice rattled through his chest, vibrating against mine.
The way he filled my kitchen... His broad, bare back, muscles shifting, his low-hanging shorts...
“When did you get up?” I asked, pulling away and sitting at the breakfast bar.
“Couple hours ago. Had to make arrangements for someone to come out to the house. We're getting cameras and a new gate and alarm. And I need to leave soon. What do you have today?” David asked as transferred the takeout to plates, setting mine in front of me.
“I have a session with Tracy and lunch with Alec.”
“I gave Aaron and Fergus explicit instructions. The property is going to get done today, okay? And I should be back before seven.”
“Okay.”
He blew out a heavy breath and sat down, staring at his plate for a long moment before he finally turned to look at me.
“This is the second time that fucker has gotten to you.” He paused, considering his next words. “If I’d done my job in protecting you, it would never happened.”
“You take amazing care of me.” I cut him off. “Zach could've approached me at the Polo Lounge. I mean, there's nothing you could've done. You do everything you can. I don't feel like you failed me. At all.”
“Yeah, well... that fucker wouldn't even be bugging you if it weren't for me,” he muttered.
I didn't respond, because it was true. David's media push on our wedding was what had drawn Zach's attention back to me.
We ate in silence, but the constant physical contact—his hand running along my thigh, my back, my neck—eased any discomfort.
Fergus emerged from my guestroom just as we finished.
“Sent Aaron to the store, coffee's ready.” David nodded toward the counter as he gripped my shoulders, steering me toward my room.
I had the distinct feeling he didn't want me around Fergus, but why, I didn't know.
“Wear sweats,” David directed as he let me go.
“Baby, she needs to see my form, make sure I'm doing everything right,” I reminded him sweetly.
He grumbled, “You get skinny, I'm gonna be pissed.”
“What?” I turned, looking at him, horrified.
He gave me a sexy smirk. Sauntering over, his hands slipped inside my pants, pushing them down a little, gripping my bare hips.
“This sexy little indent.” His voice was that soft growl my body always responded to. My breath caught as his thumbs swept along the sensitive flesh just inside my hip bones. Then those hands slid around, gripping my butt. “This ass.” He made a deep, hungry sound. “I want you to stay feminine and curvy.”
“So, I guess my curves are to you,” I drew the words out, seductively, running my hands down his chest, “what your muscles are to me.”
Leaning down, I ran my tongue along the deep groove of his sexy V of muscle. I was rewarded with a long, low groan that vibrated through his large body, going straight to my sex.
“Sweetheart, we don't have time.” His gruff voice was part warning, part regret.
He jerked me up, claiming my mouth in a rough, possessive kiss, making my pussy clench.
When he pulled away, I was lust-drunk and determined to get at least one orgasm before he left. We stared at each other, our gazes locked. Suddenly, his broad palm landed on my ass, hard, making me yelp and pull back.
“Behave and get dressed,” he warned gruffly.
Reluctantly, I obeyed, grabbing my workout clothes, trying to ignore the demanding ache between my legs.
As I pulled on my yoga pants, my gaze caught on David’s taut oblique, bunching and flexing as he dug through a bag.
Bet I could rub my clit on them, hump his side until I came…
Fuck, get a grip!
Eventually, I noticed it was a bag of fresh clothes he was looking through.
“You had time to go home?” I asked, fastening my sports bra.
“No, sent Aaron by the store and the house. If you need anything, text him. Also had him take some clothes out to the gym for you, and take the dirty clothes home. Helena will wash them.”
Helena. I still hadn't met her. She came by last Friday while I'd been with David, and this week would be the same.
Grabbing my socks and shoes, I sat on the bed, pulling them on. I watched as David covered his thick thighs with worn jeans, and his sculpted eight pack with a thin navy blue, V-neck tee. Then he slipped into his flip-flops.
I let out a heavy sigh, disappointed that we couldn't just get lost in each other, escape from the rest of the world, having orgasms all day.
“What's wrong?” There was a hint of amusement in his rough voice. He'd obviously caught my eye-fuck.
Without an ounce of embarrassment, I answered, “I'm sad because I'm horny... and I wanna hump your side.”
“What?” he asked, trying not to laugh.
“Those muscles on your side, the way they're tight and ridged, I think they'd feel good on my clit.”
His expression shifted, all amusement gone.
“Fuck, that's hot... Sweetheart, you can use any part of me you want,” he promised. “Tonight, we'll do exactly that.”
He grabbed his phone, wallet, and keys while I grabbed my purse. Then we headed out, leaving Chance at home.
As I unlocked my car, David's hand wrapped around my upper arm, turning me to face him.
“Fergus will meet you at the gym, okay?” His voice was low and intimate, as if he were telling me a secret. “And you're wearing this.” He handed his hoodie to me, pointedly looking at my bare stomach.
David had completely distracted me. I hadn't intended to leave the house in only my sports bra and yoga pants.
“It's your fault, you and all your hotness,” I grumbled.
He made a happy noise, pressing a kiss to my forehead, lingering there a moment.
“See you soon,” he breathed, before pulling away and climbing into Aaron's waiting car.
My drive to the gym was uneventful, but it gave me time to recover from the hormonal chaos David's mere presence caused.
When I walked into the gym, both Tracy and Fergus were already waiting on me. Tracy put me through a brutal workout while Fergus kept a much closer eye on me, closer than he ever had before.
Once the torture was over, I quickly showered and dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, a white oversized tee, and flip-flops. Wanting to keep it casual, I skipped the makeup and donned oversized sunglasses before heading out to meet Alec.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
“So, does this mean I'm in?” Alec teased.
I had filled Alec in on everything that had happened with Zach, past and present. He'd seemed surprised but took it in stride, seeming more pleased to be included in the drama.
“I would say yes.” I couldn't stop staring at his square aviator sunglasses and messy hair, reminding me too much of David, making me miss him and the cock I didn’t get earlier.
“I'm excited. This is going to be good.” He rubbed his hands together like a child.
In that moment, I could see another disti
nct similarity between David and him; they both still had that childlike awe.
“I think so.” It was going to be a huge relief not having to worry about having a panic attack every time my leading man touched me.
Although technically we hadn't test driven that theory yet, and I wasn't sure how David was going to react. Knowing Alec wasn’t interested in women made it easier, but still...
“So let's have lunch tomorrow. My place. Need to test out those sex scenes,” he said as if he could read my mind. “We have to know before we tell the network, and I want you to be comfortable—David too—because he's the only motherfucker I know who could beat my ass, and I really don't want to experience it.” He smirked.
A grin curved my lips as a small laugh huffed out of me. “He wouldn't beat your ass,” I said, still smiling.
His eyebrow drew up, and he muttered, “I have a feeling if anyone upset you, he'd be ready to throw down.”
I didn't comment, mostly because I didn't know if that was true or not. I knew David was fiercely protective of me. And after I saw what David did to Zach... I couldn't say for sure.
My phone rang, interrupting us.
“David?” Alec checked.
Digging out my phone, I looked at the screen. It was a number I didn't recognize, but it was going to David's phone.
“It's for David, we kinda share a phone,” I tried to explain.
“Something Fergus hooked you guys up with?”
Apparently, Fergus did know everyone.
“Um… yeah.”
“David won't let you answer it?” he teased.
“Yeah, he will.” Wanting to prove that was true to myself and Alec, I answered.
“Hello.”
“Yes, I'm looking for Mr. Taylor.”
I had a moment of panic, feeling like I'd made a mistake answering.
“I'm his wife.” My voice was confident, masking how I felt.
“Oh, yes, hi, I'm calling about an offer he received this morning on the Sierra Towers property. I'm Meredith Danes, his real estate agent.”
The condo had completely slipped my mind.
“Oh, great.” I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't know what the condo was worth, and it wasn't my place to accept or decline any offers.
“The buyer wants to know if everything in the condo is included. There are a few items in the closet I thought Mr. Taylor might want to keep. If he could get back to me today, that would be great.”
Oh...
Feeling brazen, I asked, “How much is the offer?”
“Four point five.”
Four and a half million...
“I'll go by today, and get back to you.” I knew that had to be a good offer.
“Perfect, thank you.”
Ending the call, I looked at Alec.
“Ever been to his condo?”
He chuckled. “It’s been a while... let's go.” He motioned our waitress over, asking for the check.
Within minutes, I was in my car on my way over to see the dreaded condo, the one David had kept to fuck Dawn. Despite that fact, or maybe because of it, for the first time, I felt like I was actually contributing to our relationship, like I was actually a wife.
It was a short drive, only a few blocks down Sunset Blvd from where we were lunching.
Alec pulled up behind me under the portico just as I was exiting my car.
“Who are you here to see?” the valet asked.
At least I thought he was the valet. He was more aggressive than any valet I'd ever encountered.
“David Taylor's condo...” I trailed off, realizing that wasn't the correct response.
“Mr. Taylor's not here.” He started to turn me away, indicating I needed to get back in my car.
“Yeah, we need to check it,” Alec chimed in, suddenly behind me. “This is his wife.”
“Hello, Mr. James.” Then the man turned to me. “I'm so sorry, please.” He led us over, opening the heavy glass door.
Finally, after another chat at the front desk and Alec using his fame to get us past security, we were in the elevator heading up to the penthouse.
“You hang out here a lot?” I asked.
“David doesn't really hang out, but I used to have a key, so they know me very well.”
Ahhh…
There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I managed to control myself.
Moments later, we were standing at the door as I entered the key with baited breath.
Upon entering the open, light-filled, modern masterpiece, I paused.
It was nothing like I'd expected.
It was nothing like David.
I couldn't see a shred of David anywhere.
It was like walking into a bright white box filled with black accessories; I felt like I'd walked into a music video. Everything was modern and chic.
There was a thick, black slate frame around an oversized fireplace, a black, oversized, contemporary, leather S-shaped couch, and a huge black and white photo of the LA skyline hung on the wall above a lone black console. As I scanned the barren room, my eyes were drawn to the open kitchen, containing black cabinets with a bright white counter and backsplash.
There was no color anywhere.
Even the dining room table was a black lacquer with tall white leather chairs.
It was gorgeous and elegant, but it wasn't livable.
“It's exactly the same. He hasn't changed a thing,” Alec interrupted my thoughts. “Hasn't even touched my room.”
That brought me up short.
“You have a room here?”
“David didn't tell you?” he asked, seeming genuinely surprised.
“No.”
“Yeah, can't really take guys home when I have paps staking out my house. Whenever David was out of town, he let me use the place.”
For some reason, that completely changed my view of the condo. Suddenly, it seemed more like a hotel than a home.
In an instant, I realized that condo embodied both of our lives before we met. Cold and desolate, wrapped in a pretty package.
We were more alike than I'd realized.
Heading down the hall, I found his bedroom. It was the same as the rest of the house, black and white, nothing personal anywhere. Opening the closet door, I found what the real estate agent had been talking about. One of David's jerseys and a handful of cleats remained. I was positive David had left them intentionally, but I was still going to check with him later.
“Okay,” I sighed.
Alec leaned in behind me. “Oh, is that what the call was about, his jersey?”
“Yeah.”
“Seriously doubt he wants that. I've never met anyone who resented their career as much as him,” Alec muttered, before leaving the room.
He was right; I knew he was right.
Being nosy, we went through the rest of the condo. Everything was new to me, but nothing was new to Alec, as he gave me a tour, giving me details that David never had and never would.
Once we reached a long hall on the far side of the condo, Alec opened a door. “This was my room.”
My gaze was immediately drawn to the black wall where a king-sized bed sat, then the wall of glass with views of Griffith Observatory. It had a sophisticated simplicity about it.
“You don't want to go in there,” Alec warned as I headed for the next door. “That's where he took his arrangements.”
That hit me like a punch in the gut. I hadn't actually allowed myself to go there since walking in—David fucking Dawn and all the other women he'd been linked to over the years.
Then the full meaning finally settled in.
“He didn't take them to his room?”
“No, he didn't want them in his space, his bed.”
Then a sick feeling crawled through me.
Why doesn't he think I should see the room?
Without a second thought, I opened the door.
My breath left me in a rush, stark relief washing over me. I wasn't sure what I'd ex
pected to find, maybe sex toys or a swing, but there was nothing; it was an exact copy of Alec's room.
As we went through the space, I found myself looking at it differently, looking at it through David's fantasy.
This would've been the first place we lived in LA. The truth was, the place was gorgeous and huge and had killer views. If I'd been with him, it would've been a home; it would've been us. And just like that, the condo no longer represented David's past with women, it represented a sad and lonely past without me.
“Sorry about the Dawn thing,” Alec broke through my train of thought. “I told him he was paying her too much.”
My insides twisted and my eyes closed, schooling my expression into a neutral mask.
Stupid ass, of course she was a paid arrangement, that's what arrangements are!
I'd never let myself really think about it before, not where David was concerned at least. I knew two girls who lived off arrangements, and they lived very well. They also never got emotionally attached.
Swallowing thickly, I opened my eyes and asked, “Paid her too much?”
“I think so. She'd only had one arrangement before David, and it was a director, he was only paying her 4K a month, but fucking her at least five days a week.”
Oh God...
I understood why she was a drug addict; I would be if someone treated me like that.
“I know, right?” he said at my disgusted expression. “Prostitutes get paid better. But David had been paying his previous arrangement twenty a month, so that's what he paid Dawn.”
Twenty thousand a month...
No wonder she didn’t want to lose David.
He shook his head. “It was a huge mistake. I know he pays them well to assure his privacy, make sure they keep their mouth shut, and abide by the NDA agreement, but with her...” He trailed off as he walked over to the patio doors, looking out over the city.
I followed him, going over to the glass wall, despite the sinking feeling in my stomach as I looked down. All the exterior walls were glass; three sixty views.
“David only saw his arrangements a couple of times a month,” Alec went on, “sometimes less. So for her, it was like... she went from being a cum bucket to thinking she was in love.”
I completely understood that too. Compared to her previous treatment, David treated her like a queen. It would be easy to confuse that for love, most women would. The financial security alone would be enough to make a woman stay with him forever. And the fact that he was gorgeous...