“I admitted that a long time ago, and it pushed him farther away from me. He’s chosen to live his life without any attachments. He thinks it’s all he can have after what he did and saw while in the military. I want to believe that if he ever did settle down, it would be with me. I’m not naïve enough to think that’s going to be anytime soon.”
“Show him what he’s missing, Rei. You’re drop dead gorgeous, and smarter than all of us combined. Plus, you have extreme compassion for the women we help, but also know how to torture an answer out of the evil people we come into contact with. What guy wouldn’t want you?”
“Thanks for that. And I know you worry, so I’ll tell you one thing and one thing only. It can never leave this room.”
“Let me shut off the video and sound in here.” I pull out my work tablet and get that taken care of before turning back to her. “We’re good.”
“He does want me, Ainsley. We really did leave the party together.”
“You mean…you and Matt…wow!”
“It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last. But that’s all I get, a random hookup every few months. It’s past time for me to move on. Not with Kevin Donaldson, but I think getting out there and dating would be a good thing for me. Maybe I’ll bring a date to the ball.”
“I almost forgot about the ball.” Jane hosts two balls per year. The tickets are always in such high demand. I need to ask Zack to be my date.
“I won’t tell Jane,” she teases me. “Thanks for talking with me. I’ve needed to tell someone for a long time.”
“I love Matt, but don’t let him tear you down. Find yourself a great guy who appreciates you. You deserve it, and if he can’t give that to you, you need to move on. Having sex with him can’t be easy for you.”
“It’s not, and you’re right. I deserve better.”
We hug and then she shoos me away, telling me she’ll be okay. I turn everything back on, and head down to my office to drop my tablet. I don’t expect to find Matt waiting in there for me.
“Did you need something, Matt?”
“Oh hey. I got an alert that the cameras went down in the small conference room, and it said that you took them offline.”
“Yes. I did.”
“Why?”
“I was talking to Reina, and we didn’t want to be recorded or overheard.”
“Oh. You were recounting some sexy times with Taylor, huh?”
I know he’s fishing, and lucky him, I’m just pissed enough at him to tell him. “No. We were talking about you.”
“Me? Shit. What did she tell you?”
“What do you think she told me?”
“Can you turn off the things in here?”
“I already did.”
“She told you we slept together the other night, didn’t she?”
I don’t answer because I promised not to talk about it. I want to, though. I want to scream at him and tell him to stop using her when it’s obvious that she’s in love with him.
“It’s more complicated than it seems.”
“So un-complicate it for me.”
“I can’t. Just know that I wish I could have her, and only her. I wish she could be mine. But that’s not an option for me.”
“You’re a good man, Matt. Why can’t you see that?”
“Because I’m really not. I’ve already said too much, and I’m not going to bare the rest of my black soul today. Take care, Little Mouse.”
He kisses me on the forehead before leaving. I sink into my chair, worrying about my two friends. They’d be so good together, but no one can force Matt to do anything. I’m afraid that by the time he realizes he can have Reina, she’ll have settled for someone else. Losing her is the one thing he couldn’t handle, and he’s probably going to end up in jail when that happens.
I immerse myself in work for the next few hours. I make sure Ellie’s getting the support she needs, and cheer with everyone else on my team when she reports in. She got the woman—an American who was kidnapped while on vacation—out, and they’re both on their way back to the states.
She signs off quickly, needing to be with the victim. Aiden takes over and records his version of the events. He was Ellie’s back-up since a man was needed to help infiltrate the compound where the woman was being held at. We’re really lucky to have Matt and his friends helping us out. It would be hard to find guys to trust with our secrets who also have the skill set necessary to help us.
Matt, Aiden, and Nate are all great guys. Who’ve also slept their way through Chicago, and are working hard to conquer Vegas as well. While three of my friends pine for them. Reina for Matt, Ellie for Aiden—I apologized to her for using him for that kiss—and Jade for Nathan. If those guys would stop trying to stick their dicks in every female they come across, we’d all be a lot happier.
I put those thoughts out of my head as I call Jake to my office. He went to school with me and Scott, and is my right hand down here in the tech dungeon. We go over my mission, the completion of Ellie’s, and the new one Darcy is starting tomorrow. I make sure he has everything he needs before I log out of my tablet and close my office door. I text Zack as I take the elevator upstairs. I was here much later than I planned to be, so I hope he still wants to come over.
Me: I’m on my way home. Do you still want to come over?
Zack: I wasn’t sure you were going to text. It’s a little late.
Me: Are you out somewhere?
Zack: Yeah. A couple of the guys asked me to hang out, and I was hungry.
Me: You’re at a restaurant?
Zack: No. We’re at TAO Beach.
He’s at a topless pool? God, I’m so stupid.
Me. Oh. Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. Have fun.
Zack: You can’t just expect me to sit around all day waiting for you, Ains.
Me: I don’t expect that. I just expect that if you say you want to come over, you really mean it. It’s fine, though. Like I said, have fun and I’ll see you on the field tomorrow.
Zack: It’s not like that. I’m just hanging out with the guys.
Zack: Ains? Come on babe, answer me.
My phone starts ringing, but I ignore it. I can’t talk to him right now. I want to trust him, but he’s at a topless pool. What guy hangs out at one of those if he’s not wanting to be with the women there? I know I shouldn’t do it, but I go to his Facebook page. I know if he’s been there more than ten minutes, there will be pics.
Instead of pics, I find angry posts from women he refused to pose with. Or flirt with. From what I’m reading, he just hung out with his friends. He signed things for the guys who were there, but ignored the women who approached him. Now I’m the one who fucked up. I switch over to my text screen.
Me: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be jealous of some random topless women. Who you ignored.
Zack: You went on my FB page, didn’t you?
Me: Yes.
Zack: You shouldn’t have needed to do that.
Me: I know. I just didn’t think I could compete with them.
Zack: There was no competition. You had me. Only you. I can’t talk to you right now. I’m angry and don’t want to say something I’ll regret. I’ll see you tomorrow.
I force myself to put my phone away and remain calm while I drive home. I maintain that false calm while I make myself dinner, change into a loose t-shirt, and put on plaid pajama pants. I put on his jacket so I can wear it for one more night as I curl up on the couch.
Only then do I pull my phone back out, looking at that last message. Where he told me I “had” him. Not have—had. It’s over, and this time I’m to blame.
Chapter 14
Zack
I pull out my phone to check the time. I should’ve gone home an hour ago, but I stayed here on principle. I see that I left my text conversation with Ainsley open. I read over it again, and suck in a breath at the last message I sent her. My auto-correct changed a word. Just one, but of course it’s the one that should’ve mattered
the most in that message. Fuck. I need to get to her.
I pull out my wallet and hand the waitress more than enough cash to cover the one beer and two waters that I had. I practically run to valet to retrieve my SUV and then drive to Ainsley’s place. I’m hoping she left my name on the approved list since I was supposed to come over. Luck is with me as I’m waved into the underground garage.
I say hi to the guys in the lobby, and take the elevator up to her floor once they activate it for me. I know her door will be unlocked. She only locks it when I’m inside with her. I open it, and my heart sinks as I see her curled up on the couch. In my letterman’s jacket.
“Zack.”
“Hi.”
“You’re here.”
“Yeah. I didn’t realize my phone changed the word in my text to you. I would’ve made sure you knew that right away if I’d seen it. But I was angry that you didn’t trust me, so I put my phone back in my pocket right away. I drove here as soon as I saw it.”
“What word got changed?”
“The most important one. ‘Have.’ It should’ve said have and not had. You have me.”
She launches herself at me, and I catch her in my arms, picking her up. She wraps her arms and legs around me as I walk us back to the couch. I sit down and kiss her.
“I’m so sorry I was such a jealous bitch. You understood that I wanted to hang out with my friends. I should’ve been equally understanding when you were with yours. Even though the location you chose to hang at leaves little to be desired.”
“I want to say it’s okay, but honestly, I’m still a little angry about your reaction. You shouldn’t have needed to go on social media to know that I was ignoring other women.”
“I know. You have every right to be angry with me. I want to trust you. I’m trying to trust you.”
“I know my past is bad. Like really bad. But I’ve done everything I can think of to let you know how much I love you. To show you that you’re it for me. I mean, I guess there’s one more thing I could do, but I haven’t bought a ring yet, and I’d hate to propose empty-handed.”
“You-you want to marry me?”
“One day, yes. But I need to know you trust me, Ains. We can’t ever get married if we don’t trust each other.”
“I love you, Zachary Taylor, and I’m going to do everything I can to be worthy of that ring.”
“I’m going to make sure I’m worthy of you by the time I buy it, Ainsley Martin. Because I love you, too.”
“Would you go to the Corrigan Foundation ball with me next month?”
“We’re actually going to walk into a ball together?”
“If you’ll go with me.”
“Of course I’ll go with you.”
We kiss for a long time on the couch and then I carry her up to her bed. I make sweet, slow love to her before she falls asleep with her head on my chest. I look down at her and think about how lucky I am. We’ve had some bumps along the way, but I know we’re in a good place now. I cuddle her closer and fall asleep within minutes.
I wake up and think I’m still dreaming because my cock’s in Ainsley’s mouth. I look down and her eyes are twinkling as she sees that I’m awake. She starts sucking harder as her hand moves near my base. I arch my back and grab the sheets. I want to grab her head, but I know that this is big for her, so I don’t want to push her. She’s doing an awesome job on her own.
It only takes another minute before I can’t help thrusting into her mouth as I feel myself starting to come. I do put my hands on her head then, trying to pull her away. “I’m coming, Ains. Let go.”
She shakes her head and sucks harder. I come on a yell, and she drinks it all down, licking up every last drop. Then she licks her lips as she smiles at me.
“Oh God…babe...God…”
“I did okay for my first time?”
I look up to where she’s climbed on top of me. She’s biting her lip and looks nervous. I want to tell her it’s the best I’ve had, but I don’t lie to her. And while it was mind blowing, I’ve had better because I’ve been blown by pros.
“It was amazing. You’re amazing.”
“Really? I wanted to do it right.”
“Yes, really. And it would be pretty hard to do it wrong.”
“I-I liked it. A lot. I know you said I would, but I wasn’t sure.”
“I was being an ass when I said that, trying to make you do what I wanted. You know you didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. I wanted to try it, and then…well, then it made me feel kind of powerful. And sexy.”
“Good. You are those things.”
I’ve been so intent on talking to her, and making sure she’s okay that I didn’t notice her moving on top of me. But now I do. She’s rubbing herself against my abs, trying to get release. I move my hand down to her clit and start rubbing my thumb over it while I put two fingers inside of her.
“Don’t stop. Please. I know this was supposed to be for you, but that made me…I’m…”
“Shh, babe. I’ve got you.”
I lean up and pull a nipple into my mouth as she arches towards me. It doesn’t take long until she’s screaming and soaking my fingers. I pull my fingers out once she’s finished, bringing them to my lips so I can taste her.
“I love the taste of you. I should’ve just put my mouth on you, but then we would’ve never left this bed.”
“You tasted really good, too. Can I do that again later?”
“Are you trying to make me practice with a hard-on? Because if you keep talking like that, I guarantee that’s what I’ll be doing.”
“You don’t normally do that?”
“Semi, babe, I can usually control it down to semi-hard when you’re at practice.”
“I only cause a semi? I need to find those booty shorts Stella bought me.”
She tries to get up off the bed, but I grab her and pull her under me, tickling her all over. “Later. Please wear them later. If you wear them to practice, I’m probably going to embarrass myself by coming in my pants. And I said I control it down to a semi—you get me fully hard every time I see you.”
She’s laughing hard as I continue my assault. “Stop tickling me and I’ll consider wearing more clothes.”
I stop and kiss her instead. She places her hands on my cheeks, caressing my face as I rub her hips. “How did I ever get lucky enough to meet you, Ains?”
“We’re both lucky, I think. Now get in the shower before you make me cry with all this sappy talk. You know I’m all girl when it comes to my emotions.”
I laugh, kiss her on the nose, and jump off the bed. A half hour later, we’re out the door. She’s got on jeans, and a baggy t-shirt under my jacket. Her hair’s in a messy bun and she’s wearing glasses and her Chucks. I know it’s all for my benefit, but she’s still sexy as hell. And I’m as hard as a steel pipe.
* * *
Ainsley
The game’s tomorrow and I’m really excited for everyone. The guys have been getting better and better every day. So have Zack and me. We’ve spent the last few nights together, usually at my place. It’s been nothing short of amazing. Not just the sex, although, I’ll never complain about that. We have so much fun together, just doing normal things like cooking dinner or watching TV. We tried to play Monopoly one night, but we’re both too competitive and Zack almost ended up sleeping on the couch that night. Almost. I really can’t resist him.
Nothing else has happened to the team. Jane is afraid something big will happen at the game, so all the girls, except for Darcy, will be there. She has to finish preparing for her mission. The other eight will be spread out around the stadium Matt, Aiden, and Nate will be there, too. We need as many eyes as possible, and my team will be monitoring everything remotely as well.
We’re having dinner with the Rivers’ and all the other players and coaches. There’s no alcohol being served, and it will be an early night, but they wanted a celebration. Zack’s agent, Dex, showed up unexpectedly, making my
guy a little pissed when he tried get him to talk about a trade again.
I know he needs to be relaxed for tomorrow, so I made sure to put his hand on my thigh during dinner. I have on a short purple dress with a bow detail in back, and the requisite strappy heels. I know he likes it—even with the higher neckline—because he told me it’s a good thing we’ll be going home separately tonight. We have to. He needs to be rested, which will definitely not happen if we’re together.
We say our goodbyes at the front door. He heads out to his car, and I go to use the restroom before I leave. It’s ironically the same one I met Zack in. When I walk outside, I accidentally bump into Dex as he’s coming around the house. My body stiffens, and although I try to hide my reaction, it’s too late. He sees it and pushes me against the wall, covering my mouth with his hand. I start to fight when I feel the gun against my side.
“Not this time, bitch.”
He’s the one. Dex is the guy who tried to attack me in my hotel room. I realized it when my body connected with his. I don’t know why, but he’s definitely part of it. Kevin walks around the side of the house a moment later. He smiles when he sees us, and my suspicions about him are confirmed.
He stands next to Dex, blocking me from the other party stragglers. “This is going to be fun. Taylor’s going to crumble when she’s not at the game tomorrow. I just want a go at her before we kill her.”
“Keep it in your pants, Donaldson. She’s caused us all too much trouble already. We don’t need her magic snatch pulling you under her spell, too,” Coach says as he joins us.
“I can see you trying to figure it all out, Ainsley. Since we’re going to kill you anyway, I’ll let you in on our secret. We have our own NFL team ready to go. It was supposed to be the one to debut this year, but Mitchell Corrigan and Gary Griffin were too powerful for us to win against. When this team falls apart, we’ll be all set. You almost ruined part of our plan by getting Zack to stay here, but now that won’t be an issue. He wants you at that game tomorrow more than he wants a win.”
It’s all coming together for me. I remember briefly looking into the other team that would’ve made it in this year if the Legions hadn’t. It was owned by a dummy corporation that was set up in the Cayman Islands. Jake’s been trying to track down the owners, but he hasn’t had any luck so far. I didn’t think too much of it since I didn’t believe anyone from that company would’ve been able to get close to the Legions.
Fielding Her SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 1) Page 13