An Everlasting Pursuit (PURSUIT, #3) Page 7

  Brown hair!

  Wasn’t Sue blonde?

  I squeeze my eyes tightly to get rid of the tears and open them again.

  Her lips leave mine, and she lifts her head a few inches away to give me a better view.

  “You?”

  “Yes, me.” A heart-melting smile brightens up the most beautiful face I’ve ever seen, and I don’t know whether I should be furious or thankful for the view.

  8 – TAYLOR: The grand scheme

  The miscarriage took away the little self-confidence I had in myself, in terms of Adam’s love for me. I could barely function the two weeks following the grand truth that my body wasn’t capable of carrying the pregnancy to full term. I felt compelled to know if Adam loved me for myself or to pay back Jack’s generosity to his mother for donating a part of his lungs to her.

  If Adam’s reason was a feeling of debt, I was ready to file for divorce so he could find another woman with whom he could make a family, despite the fact that I had no idea how I would go on without Adam as the rock of my life.

  That’s why I called the phone number on the business card of Loving Wives Inc. I didn’t have any specific plan about how exactly I could prove Adam’s love for me, but something told me the lady who answered my call would find a way.

  Candice Sherylwood, an elegant brunette in her mid-forties, invited me into her office the same day of my phone call. She offered classes for anything and everything a woman, married or in a relationship, would benefit from.

  Rekindle and retain passion in long term relationships

  How to spice up the bedroom despite the kids

  How to identify and eliminate the reasons for low libido

  Secrets to give blow job like a professional prostitute

  How to lose weight without losing your curves and femininity

  Right food to keep your sexual power high

  How to choose the right lingerie for your body type

  Recipes that will give him an orgasm at the dinner table

  Your orgasm will multiply his: How to reach a deep, vaginal orgasm

  Child care basics every mother-to-be should know

  What to expect when you’re expecting a divorce

  Ten basic finance rules that’ll keep you afloat after a divorce

  And many more eyebrow-raising classes.

  Although my problem wasn’t listed among the items Candice offered help with, after I’d recited her all my insecurities about Adam, she didn’t even need to scratch her head to find a solution for me.

  I wasn’t entirely spared from taking classes, though. Candace thought I’d benefit from an oral-sex class, especially after she’d seen the lack of my oral skills when I demonstrated for her on a ten-inch dildo.

  Her plan was simple and direct. She hired two attractive fashion models to trick Adam into bed. One was a brunette beauty with big boobs and curvy hips, the other a tall blonde. I couldn’t say I was entirely comfortable with the idea of getting two sexy girls anywhere close to my husband, but I went with it. It was better that I knew of his tendencies sooner than later.

  One of the girls, the brunette, tried to seduce him after faking a flat tire on the route Adam drove every day to work. I watched Adam stop, change the tire without even giving an extra glance at the girl, who was wearing no bra or panties under a mini satin dress, and get back into his car, despite the open invitation of the girl to her home.

  I should have stopped there and taken it as proof of Adam’s commitment to me, but I had to be one hundred percent sure in order to get over my insecurities. Besides, I paid three-thousand dollars, and I wouldn’t drop the case so easily without full proof.

  So, Candice and I sat down to come up with plan B, which was forcing Adam to have sex with another woman and see his reaction. Obviously, I wouldn’t allow another woman to so much as touch Adam, but that didn’t mean he had to know that fact.

  Everything was set. The second girl, the blonde with the eyes the blue of the oceans, would make Adam believe I was in danger so he had no way other than to follow her into a motel room, with the belief that to rescue me he had to have sex with her but, in reality, it would be me.

  I absolutely loved every curse and plea that came out of Adam’s mouth on that bed, while he was wrongly thinking the blonde girl was on him. Even his threats were amusing, although I didn’t think he was joking. His declaration of love for me, while he was tied down on the bed and his eyes covered, had to suffice for me to believe I was the only one for him, but I was enjoying myself way too much to just stop and show him my real face.

  Oh, but the tears rolling down his cheeks did it for me, and I couldn’t continue anymore. I moved up and kissed his lips, savoring every bit of sensation they awakened in me. He kissed me back, but not because he wanted the other woman. He recognized me. He felt it was me, and not the blonde girl, enjoying the frantic lust of his sweet lips.

  “You?” he says once his eyes find mine.

  “Yes, me.” I smile, hardly holding myself from moaning at the twitching of his cock inside me. As soon as I untie his hands, he shoves me under him and rams his cock so hard and deep inside me that I find myself screaming. He’s punishing me, and I want nothing other than the release of his fury.

  “Jesus, Taylor, I thought everything between us would be over.” His eyes are still wet, and some of the tears drop onto my face. “How could you do this to me? I hated every second of it.”

  “Is that why you’ve gotten rock hard?” I lift my head and stare right into his eyes. I have no more doubt about his love for me, but I’m dying to hear how he’ll justify his weakness.

  “I guess my cock is smarter than I am and recognized your mouth instantly.” He pauses for a moment, making his cock jerk inside me in such a wicked way that my head drops down on the bed and my eyes close. “Are you still hot after all that fucking we did at noon?”

  “Hmm,” is all I can utter once he starts pumping into me.

  “I had no idea you could give head like a pro.”

  “Oh, that.”

  “Yeah, that. Your pussy has just gotten big competition, baby.” He slings my left leg over his shoulder, dries his eyes, and continuous with his furious thrusts. I love to be able to pull the mad out of him. He’s cute and fun when he’s calm, but no one can top the sexiness that pours freely out of him when he’s mad. Like right now. “You’re going to pay for this. You know it, right?”

  “Thought I was already paying for it,” I murmur and bite his shoulder. His thick skin is salty with sweat and makes me want to bite him deeper; marking the skin that I now know for sure is mine.

  “Don’t you dare hurt me more than you already did,” he says and explodes his release into me, causing me to shudder with my own orgasm. He collapses onto me, his arms wrapping tightly around my body, leaving me no space to breathe. But, I don’t even try to budge him. That’s his way of showing me how much he must have feared losing me.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper into his ear and run my hands through the curly strands of his silky hair.

  “I wouldn’t know what to do if it was another woman. I can’t lose you, Taylor. I simply can’t.”

  “You won’t lose me.” Unless you want it.

  9 – TAYLOR: Wrong man kissed

  Sabrina greets me with a shy smile and hands me a folder of documents that are waiting for my signature. “Bree has just called in sick. She said she broke her leg in an accident yesterday and won’t be able to work this week and probably next week too.”

  “Oh, my god. Are you serious?” I grab my phone and dial Bree’s number. It rings and immediately goes to the answering machine. I tab no and disconnect. She must be sleeping or in a hospital. “Did she say where she is?”

  Sabrina shakes her head. “She mentioned her sister is with her to help her out.”

  “Oh, good. Put her through immediately if she calls again.” My own sister broke her leg last year, and both my aunt and I took care of her for a while. It’s strange how
Bree is going through the same experience. Why didn’t she call me directly instead of leaving a message with Sabrina?

  Bree’s accident hasn’t come at a good time. The next few months will be very busy, especially after we sign the Berenson contract with Mr. Hawkins; we won’t have time to breathe. If Bree isn’t able to work after the end of next week, I’ll have to hire a temp.

  I settle in front of my computer, take a bite from the chocolate croissant I bought on the way to work, and start going through the details of the Berenson project. The permits will be tricky, and we’ll have to find subcontractors other than the ones we usually recruit because of the distance of the construction site to LA. Adam has already pre-ordered the material, so there shouldn’t be any delay in the delivery. It looks like Adam’s secret meetings with Chloe Hawkins weren’t all wasteful, and he managed to convince her to talk her father into making a few tweaks to the apartment designs to reduce the material costs. I wonder how much of her persuasion was due to his charm and how much due to his rationale.

  Half hour before twelve, I leave my office to freshen up and fix my makeup for the lunch meeting I’m going to have with a potential subcontractor.

  Adam appears in the anteroom, chatting with Sabrina. “Do you have a minute? I have to talk to you about a pending purchase order.”

  “Sure.” I walk back into my office and keep the door open to invite him in. His hands are balled up into fists at the sides of his torso, and his face looks unusually serious. “Is there a problem?”

  “Yes.” He walks toward me and stops only inches away from me. I notice his Adam’s apple sliding up and down and his eye twitch. He’s upset at something, and I’m afraid it’s related to a careless mistake... possibly done by me. “Did you approve the furniture purchase Bree ordered?”

  “Oh, that, yeah. I had to. She ordered it without asking me. Canceling it would cost five-thousand dollars. So I just went with it.”

  He throws his head back, breathing through his nostrils. “You approved the transaction of a ninety-five-thousand-dollar purchase for some shitty furniture on the eve of a major project? We need every penny to be able to pay for the pre-order deposits.”

  “Uh, I guess there’s some kind of a misunderstanding. I agreed on fifty thousand, not ninety five.” I try to remember the phone call with Bree, when she asked for my approval. She said fifty thousand, didn’t she? She wouldn’t make a mistake with the numbers, neither would I mishear her. Henry phoned to follow up, too, though I didn’t really let him speak. Looks like I should have.

  “What does that mean? Didn’t you check the purchase order before giving your approval?”

  Sounds very silly. Particularly for someone stingy like me. I bite my lip and shake my head in shame. Ninety-five-thousand dollars? Did Bree change her mind and order something much more expensive, without informing me about it, let alone asking for my permission? Has our friendship made me an easygoing boss in her eyes?

  “Where is Bree?” An angry smile appears at Adam’s lips. I know better than to be deceived by it. He’s a perfectionist when it comes to work and won’t forgive or forget, even if it’s his sister or wife.

  “She broke her leg and won’t be in for some time.”

  “That can’t be possible.” Producing a phone from the pocket of his jacket, he dials a number, which I assume Bree’s. More anger spreads across his face. “She’s not answering.”

  “The accident happened yesterday. She’s probably in the hospital.”

  “Smells fishy to me.”

  “So, what are you going to do about the purchase order?” I shouldn’t have to ask him that. I’m his boss, and if I give my approval on something, it should remain valid. However, the company’s future is more important than my puffed ego.

  “The only thing we can do in these circumstances; I’ll cancel it.”

  “How about the ten-percent penalty for cancelation?” Which makes it nine-thousand-and-five-hundred dollar.

  “It must be one percent, not ten. I haven’t heard of any company holding up such a large sum as penalty.”

  How didn’t I know that? The ten-percent forfeit was Bree’s main argument to get my approval.

  “And the penalty will be subtracted from your and Bree’s salaries,” Adam says before spinning around and strolling to the door. I don’t care if my salary will be less for the next few months; if anything I deserve it. But that won’t stop the feeling of irritation mixed with disappointment from nagging at me.

  Going to lunch with Paul Decker turns out to be another irritating mistake. Rather than talking about what he can offer us as a subcontractor, he drags on and on about his success in business and private life through the lunch. When he finally drives me back to work—I should have never allowed him to drive me to lunch in the first place—I couldn’t reach for the door handle quickly enough.

  “I have to apologize for something,” he says when I just push the door open.

  I can’t be rude and ignore his words although it’s my every right. “What is it?” I face him.

  “I should have focused on work instead of trying to impress you. This is after all a work relationship.”

  I don’t know how to respond, except for feeling pity for him as he opens those puppy eyes of his wide in apology. “No big deal.” I wave it off.

  “I would really like to take over the project you’re offering.”

  “Get in contact with my assistant to schedule another meeting.” The next time, though, I’ll make sure to have Adam tag along with me. Better yet, Paul should introduce his ideas to the entire board if he wants a second chance.

  “Thank you.” He offers his hand to me, and I smile politely and return the handshake. In the blink of an eye, he pulls me against him and crushes his lips onto mine. I open my mouth to release the gag his disgusting lips are causing, but he takes it as an invitation and sticks his tongue into my mouth. Before I know it, though, he releases me from this stomach-revolting torture. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop myself. You’re so beautiful.”

  If the conditions were available, he’d probably fuck me too, just because I’m so beautiful. I’m fuming with so much rage that I can’t find my tongue to yell at him. With murderous words caged between my lips, I jump out of the car and shut the door with all my power.

  Among all the seven billion people on the planet and twelve million residents in L.A., it has to be Adam, who stands a few feet from me, staring at me wild-eyed and breathing through his nostrils. I was introduced to this side of him the first time a little over a year ago, with exactly the same situation. He doesn’t get jealous attacks like normal people do. He gets outraged, punches the walls, kicks the couches, throws the computers, or fucks me painfully hard.

  “It’s not what you think.” I hear myself drawling the standard line from movies. It’s never what it looks like.

  He doesn’t give me a chance to explain and strides off to the parking lot. I pace after him—not as fast as him because of my high heels—with the only wish that he’ll just fuck me like the last time.

  In the backseat of his car?

  The thought of him taking me with all the rage he has now makes me soaking wet. But, I should focus on an apology before considering any kind of mating. “Adam, wait. He kissed me out of the thin air. I’d have punched him in the face if I’d seen it coming.”

  “Why didn’t you do it, then?” He yells so loud that my ears hurt, even though he’s several feet away from me. He’s furious with jealousy. Oh, God, the sex will be amazing.

  “I was shocked.” It’s the truth, but when it comes out of my mouth it sounds too silly to be true. I shouldn’t be shocked at a simple thing like a kiss. What will I do if I get robbed, kidnapped, or raped?

  He climbs into his car and starts the engine. When I arrive at the side of the passenger door, he maneuvers the car out of the parking space and drives out, leaving me gaping after him.

  Where is he going? And, where the heck is my jealousy fuck? Since
he drove me to work this morning and has taken off now, I don’t have any ride back home. Or I’d drive right after him.

  I call a cab and while waiting for it to come, I call Sabrina to let her know I’m not going back to work and that she should cancel all my appointments for the afternoon.

  The cab drive takes an extremely long time for being two in the afternoon. I shove the driver a twenty and hurry out. With my knees shaking and my heart hammering, I jump in the elevator. I pray to have Adam at home while unlocking the door, so we can talk about what just happened. Otherwise the afternoon will be a torture, knowing he won’t answer me if I call him.

  I say my silent thank-you to Heaven, when I find Adam sitting on the couch in the living room. His hands are firm balls, hidden in his pockets, probably to ensure they can’t punch anything.

  For now.

  His lips are tight, and his eyebrows are a straight line just above his eyes. He glares at me with lethal eyes. His phone, resting on the coffee table, beeps and beams with an incoming text or email, but he doesn’t release me from his murderous look.

  “Baby, please,” I begin. “It was a silly mistake.”

  “Yet, you seem intent on repeating it. Don’t ever think for a second I’ve forgotten about the previous one. I don’t want to share you with anyone. Not by mistake or intentionally,” he speaks with an unbelievably calm voice, considering the level of the anger that must be boiling inside him.

  “It won’t happen again. I promise.” I move toward him and drop down on my knees between his legs. I breathe in his after shave and run my hands on his knees toward his hips.

  He stands up swiftly, tearing my hands off of him. “I can’t bear your touch right now.”

  What? His words pierce through my heart worse than his sudden move. A desperate need to touch him and reclaim what is mine fills me. “Please, don’t make it more than what it is.” I tilt my head to glance up at him. “I love you, only you. No man in the world can take your love away from me.”

  Without so much as looking at me, he storms out of the living room and heads over to his study. I wonder whether he’s actually angry at my mistake over the purchase order and is only reflecting it onto a stupid kiss. He bangs his office door closed and latches the lock. His rejection constricts my chest like a corset, and hot tears stream down my cheeks. My head drops on the couch, and I cry for minutes, maybe hours until he comes out.