Sterling Shore: Tagged And Ashed Part 13

I nod, and he hands the girl a card while he and his a.s.sistant grab up their briefcases and notes. I put my own notes away just as the girl sweeps back in with the tab in her hand.

Mr. Kent signs it, and then he heads out to make room for my last client of the evening. It's almost three now. I had no idea that was going to take so long. My last meeting is for drinks only.

"Anything else, Ms. Branderwood?" the meek girl asks.

"Um, yeah. I'll take a white wine; whatever you suggest. My last client should be here shortly."

"Of course."

She scurries off, and I start fumbling around on my phone to double check my notes for the Kent project while waiting on the representative for Kinset Industries. I've never heard of them, but apparently they need a website to make sure people do start hearing about them. It's an internet business, but apparently the founder lives in Sterling Sh.o.r.e. I really need to take my location off my website.

"Ms. Branderwood?" a smooth, familiar voice asks, and my phone drops to my lap as my heart stops beating.

Very slowly, my eyes peek up to see if my ears have heard right, and I get sick to my stomach when I see they have. There he is - icy blue eyes, perfectly tailored suit, and s.e.xy dark hair tousled to perfection.

Oh d.a.m.n.

Tag She looks stunned, speechless, and completely flabbergasted. I almost smirk, but I keep my stern, businesslike face as I stare down at the trembling girl who is frozen in shock.

"Should I sit?" I finally ask, mockery in my tone.

"I...um... well... I'm supposed to be meeting someone."

I finally do smirk as she stands and her phone drops from her lap and slaps the floor.

"d.a.m.n it," she says under her breath, but I bend to pick it up before she can reach it, my eyes falling on her sleek, perfect legs as I slowly stand back up and take a step toward her.

"I'm here about Kinset Industries - my newest company. I believe you're interested in designing the website?"

Her jaw tries to fall, and I stifle my ha-ha grin as I walk over to hold her chair for her.

"After you, Ms. Branderwood."

She looks so d.a.m.n good from the back. Her perfect a.s.s is shaped all the better in this tight little dress meant to be pulled up so her legs can wrap around my waist.

"Okay," she hoa.r.s.ely releases, not turning to meet my eyes. "What did you want to see on your site?"

Her quick business air almost makes me smile as I take the seat across from her.

"Straight to the point, Ms. Branderwood? What happened to foreplay?"

She swallows hard as her eyes involuntarily rake over me, remembering what it felt like to be under and on my body, and then her cheeks blush as those scandalous memories arise.

Staring at her generously exposed cleavage, my c.o.c.k twitches and hardens to the point it's d.a.m.n near painful.

What. The. h.e.l.l?

There's no way it only gets hard for her. I can't be this f.u.c.king obsessed. I'm going to need therapy to get back whatever this d.a.m.n girl took away.

As.h.i.+ara This is so f.u.c.ked up! What is he doing here? Is he trying to make me squirm? Why is he offering me a project for a startup company?

"Um, I don't think I'm the girl for this project, Mr. Masters. You should probably find someone a little more qualified," I murmur with a little more of a respectable, less stammering tone, completely ignoring his foreplay remark.

"I think you're perfect for this," he says while leaning forward, his hands forming a steeple in front of his face as his elbows rest on the table.

His eyes burn into mine. I've never seen him like this. He's not the playful, flirty guy from the wedding. He's a commanding force in a suit - calm, composed, and s.e.xy as h.e.l.l.

"How did you... I mean why did you-"

"Kinset is mostly an internet business, so I knew I needed a phenomenal website designer. Melanie has some of the best web designs for her many little businesses, so I asked her who she used. And here we are. Not to mention, she's been a little worried about you."

s.h.i.+t.

I should call Melanie. I didn't think about her calling my old number and worrying.

"I'm fine," I murmur while looking down at my hands.

"Is he bothering you again?"

Why did Melanie call him?

"It's nothing I can't handle," I murmur while forcing a smile. "So, are you sure you want me for this? If so, we should work on some of the basics right now."

Tag She's scared. I can see it in her eyes how scared she is. She's trying to hide it from me, but it's so obvious.

I've seen her in l.u.s.t, happy, excited, and scared. That day she told me about this creep, I saw the fear in her eyes. Now, I see it again.

"Don't lie to me. What's going on?"

She looks away before shrugging. I can tell she doesn't want to let me in, and it's starting to p.i.s.s me off. She doesn't have to do this alone, but she's too f.u.c.king stubborn to see it.

"He called, sent a few notes, sent a few texts, and made a few more threats. It's nothing any different than last time. I moved, changed my numbers, and now he's not bothering me. Don't worry about it. It's not your place."

Not my place? Someone has to do it, and apparently I'm the only one with b.a.l.l.s big enough to do it.

"You shouldn't be staying alone. I've talked to a security company, and I've hired some bodyguards to come watch over you until this is resolved."

Her eyes pop up, and then she shakes her head.

"Tag, you don't need to do that. I'm a big girl. I can handle this. You've got far more on your plate to worry about. Just let me deal with this."

I want to grab her by the shoulders and shake the h.e.l.l out of her. I don't know if she doesn't understand how dangerous this could be, or if she doesn't want anyone to know how f.u.c.king terrified she is.

"It's already done. Sorry if you don't like it, but Melanie will kick your a.s.s if you don't accept it."

She chews on her bottom lip, and my c.o.c.k pulsates all the more. I remember that lip being between my teeth. I remember those t.i.ts in my mouth. I remember those perfect hips in my hands.

"Excuse me, Ms. Branderwood," the waitress interrupts. "These just came for you."

As the lady places a dozen red roses on the table, all the color rushes from Ash's face, making her pale enough to pa.s.s for the living dead. She is terrified, and it's obvious where these roses just came from.

"No," she whispers to herself as the woman turns to me.

"Anything to drink, sir?" she asks with an oblivious tone.

"Not just yet. Give us a minute, please."

Ash stands up and walks briskly toward the restrooms without saying a word. Obviously, this a.s.shole has stalked her every move, and now I definitely can't let her out of my sight.

I pick up a napkin and use it to lift the card from the roses without tainting the evidence.

Pretty girl with a pretty boy. Too bad that pretty face will be gone before long. Then I bet the pretty boy will leave the not so pretty girl all alone. You deserve to suffer, b.i.t.c.h.

This is sick. Whoever this is, they're obsessed, and not the way I'm obsessed.

I slip the card in my pocket as I pull out my phone and head toward the waitress.

Handing her a fifty-dollar bill, I murmur, "This should cover Ms. Branderwood's drink. We'll be leaving now. Keep the change."

She smiles, batting her lashes in a flirty manner, but I don't give a d.a.m.n about any woman but mine.

I head back and scoop up all her belongings before motioning to the bodyguard at the front entrance. I brought him along to follow Ash home. I'm glad I did.

"Take all this to my car. We're about to get out of here."

"Do you need me to get the roses?" he asks.

"Yeah, but don't leave your prints on them. The police will need to see them. Take them and this by there while I drive Ash home."

I hand him the napkin-wrapped card, and he accepts it with worry in his eyes.

"Yes, sir."

I head toward the restrooms, uncertain what to say or do. She's not going to go through this alone.

As.h.i.+ara Right now I'm doing good not to throw up. My arms wobble as I lean over the sink in the bathroom. My whole body is burning up and freezing at the same time. Now Tag will feel sorry for me, and I don't need his pity.

I need him to leave me alone. He has no idea how crazy about him I am, and he needs someone who can be more casual than I.

I can't even read the card that sick b.a.s.t.a.r.d sent with the roses. I'm sick of all the taunting terror he sends my way. I'm tired of reading about the twisted things he threatens to do.

The door opens, and I rise up to dab away the black tears my mascara has forced me to cry.

"Hey," Tag's voice murmurs in a soothing tone, startling me.

s.h.i.+t.

"I'm fine. I'll be back out in a minute. I'm sure the roses were from Mr. Kent. We just made a business deal, and he knew I would still be here."

Please buy my lie.

He rounds the corner, and then he props up with his hands in his pockets as he stares at me.

"Ash, don't lie. I read the card. I had Gary - your new bodyguard - carry the stuff to the police. Come on. I'm taking you home."

I shake my head, more tears falling free, and then his eyes soften with that pity I was dreading.

"I'm fine, Tag. Really," I choke out. "I drove."

"Gary can come get your car with your other bodyguard - Leo - later. I'm not leaving you alone. It's nonnegotiable. Come on."

He takes a step toward me, and more of my foolish tears fall free as the reality of the terrifying situation overwhelms me suddenly. Before I know it, his lips are on mine as he pulls me against his glorious body.

"d.a.m.n," he breathes into my mouth as he jerks me up and throws me on the counter. "I forgot how good you f.u.c.king taste."

Until this moment, I've felt so completely alone these past six weeks - looking over my shoulder. Until this moment, I've been scared to frigging death. Right now, in his arms, I finally feel safe, and it feels so good.

My needy hands tangle in his hair as my whole body throbs for his touch. I need him right now, and I pray he doesn't stop until I scream.

Tag I can't stand seeing her cry, and I don't know any other way to make her stop. I've never been good with this sort of thing. I really wasn't expecting to be kissing her in the women's bathroom today.

Her breath is an aphrodisiac. Her wet panties prove she wants me as badly as I want her. My hard c.o.c.k promises to burst too soon, and that can't happen.

I'd go down on her, but I'm worried that would make me blow my climax, too. I haven't ever gone this long without s.e.x, and since my c.o.c.k only works for her, then I'm going to f.u.c.k her right here and now.

I don't have a condom, but I don't care. She's the one girl I don't mind risking things with. She's Ash.

The moans she keeps releasing into my mouth make me want her all the more as my finger finally slips inside her tight, wet haven.

d.a.m.n she feels even better than I remember.

I can't stand it any longer. I jerk her hips toward me, and her panties tear as I shred them away. With one hand, I drop my pants low enough to feel her perfect body as I sink inside her, bringing me back to the ecstasy I've been missing.

"f.u.c.king perfect," I breathe against her ear, and her legs tighten around me as I pull back to thrust in deeper, harder - the way she likes it.

"Tag," she murmurs so softly as her head falls back, exposing her delicious neck.

My lips cover it as I squeeze her tighter. Her muscles clench against my c.o.c.k, and I let out a strangled moan as I feel myself about to explode inside her far too early.