Adam's Apple (Touch of Tantra #1) (12 page)

“Those celebs you’re talking about would be under lock and key by their agents and managers if someone was wanting them dead. Do you realize you’re being protected from a potential killer? Simon, for some unknown reason, wants to end your life.” Peters’ sharp words cut me. Sadly, he’s making sense. But I still don’t like the idea.

“I just can’t really believe he’d do it. The whole thing is crazy.” I run my fingers through my hair, frustrated with this whole mess and its complications in my life.

“Crazy is the keyword. A bodyguard needs to protect you from crazy. And from what we’ve seen and gathered on Simon, he’s acting mad. You can’t take a chance and risk your life, Adam.”

“Okay, I’m not going to fight you on this anymore. Simon’s crazed. Wants me dead. So I’ll say yes to the bodyguard, but it will
not
be a permanent situation in my life.”

“Finally.” There is no mistaking the relief in Peters’ voice. “You’re a stubborn ass sometimes, Adam. Your bodyguard’s name is Jordan Hayes. He’s already on his way up here from D.C. He’s been working private security down there for a couple years. He should arrive and be ready to go by morning. He’s also a native of Queens, so he knows the city.”

“I’ll trust you on this one.”  And it’s true. I have no choice at this point. What are my other options?

“Now we need to figure out what to do with you for the evening as you aren’t going back to your apartment. Hotels aren’t an option. Too public. You said you’re with that Kathryn woman you had me investigate, right?”

“Right.” I reply wondering where he’s going with this. I look over at Kathryn when Peters mentions her name. She’s still biting her lip, and I see her brow scrunched together in concern. Likely wondering what the hell is going on.

“You need to stay at her place tonight. Simon will have no idea you’re there. He doesn’t know this woman or your connection to her, right? Ask her. Beg her if you have to. I’ll wait while you do.”

I pause and pull the phone away from my ear. My hand covers the receiver. I’d rather Peters not be privy to this conversation; I have no idea what I’m going to say or how Kathryn will react to what I’m about to ask her.

“Kathryn, my security guy, Peters, is on the phone. Says he doesn’t want me going home with Simon loose on the streets. Checking into a hotel is out of the question, too. He wants me to stay at your apartment tonight. Are you comfortable with this?

“I don’t know. It makes sense, I guess.” Her head tilts, and her brow presses together in thought.

She’s concerned with my request. Possibly wondering about the ramifications of me being with her. I don’t want her put in harms way, either. So I decide to ask Peters if he thinks it’s a safe choice for
both
of us.

“Peters, how safe is it for me to be at Kathryn’s tonight? I don’t want her in any danger.” My voice is firm. I will stay here in this fucking office if I have to and wait for the bodyguard if needed. But being in Kathryn’s apartment for the evening sounds like the best plan. A tempting alternative, too. I’ll be crossing her threshold sooner than I imagined.

“How far are you from her place? Upper East Side, right?” Peters asks.

“Just a couple of blocks. Not far at all. And yes, Upper East,” I say.

“I don’t like that your apartment is in the area. But I think you’re okay. Have someone hail you a cab in front of the restaurant and then cab it over to her place. Even if it’s only a couple blocks away, I don’t want you on the sidewalk out in the open.”

“Agree. Anything else?”

“Yes, keep your eyes open. Simon was last seen wearing a black trench coat. Police are searching his apartment now. My guess is he’s laying low somewhere. We should know more in the morning. I’m communicating with my NYPD contact. I’ll update you hourly via email or call if there’s something urgent.”

“Sounds good.” The call ends. But I have one more to make. Patrick. He’s going to have to handle all the fallout for me. Tom’s with Lois, who’s understandably upset, and I have to hide out tonight. I press call as I give Kathryn a reassuring smile and mouth the words, “thank you.”

“Adam. Have you heard the news?” Patrick says, animated, ready to jump out of his skin and through the phone. For him this is something extremely rare. He’s even less likely to show emotions than I am.

“Yes. Spoke to Tom a few minutes ago. He filled me in on everything. Did you talk with him?”

“Just for a second. Lois was too upset, and I told him we’d talk later. Unreal. Fucking unreal.” His assessment is right there with Tom’s and mine.

“I still can’t comprehend it. How does someone like Simon go from boring, software genius to hunted criminal?” I ask the question knowing there still isn’t an answer. “I’m staying at a friend’s apartment this evening. But I need you to handle our public exposure. Call the attorneys, PR, and try to get ahead of this story before it gets out of hand. Stress to the PR folks we are as confused as everyone else concerning Simon’s behavior, and we’re hoping he turns himself in and gets the help he needs. I don’t want this to become anything more than a person who snapped. Got it? Keep it private. Just Simon acting alone.”

“Sure. I’ll get on the phone with them all now.”

“Call or email me later after you’ve talked.”

“Will do.” Pocketing my phone, I hang my head and gather my thoughts before looking at Kathryn. I can feel her eyes on me.

Hesitantly, I lift
my head and look over at her. “I guess we need to head to your place. Give Maurice back his office. My apologies for dragging you into this mess.” I tilt my head and raise by brows, hoping she sees I’m sincere.

She’s been sitting there patiently waiting with her hands in her lap, but her lovely face is marked with worry. If I were in her shoes, I’d likely have bolted and got the hell away from here. Who wants to be around a man who has a crazy gun-toting maniac intent on killing him? Truthfully, I don’t want her in harm’s way, but I don’t want her leaving me, either. Silently we stare at each other. Neither one o
f us wanting to break our gaze.

“Are things always this intense on your first dates?” She says with a wink. And I have to laugh as she breaks the tension between us. “Not sure how you’re going to top this one. Cops and would-be killers aren’t something that pops up every day around here. It’s usually rather boring in this part of town.”

“I can think of several ways to top tonight,” I say, adding a wink of my own.

“Oh, I have no doubt you can.”

She rises out of her chair and in two small steps is standing in front of me. Her beautiful face looking up at me. Eyes kind and soft. And her lips. Damn those lips of hers. How I want to taste them.

She places her hands on my shirt beneath my jacket. I have no idea what she’s doing, but I soon find out as she slips my suit coat down my arms. The formal uniform of my day lies next to us on the desk.

She runs her fingers up and down my forearms with the lightest trace. Her fingers caress and lightly massage. Soothingly they pass over my shirt-covered skin. The effect of her touch races through me, and I feel myself getting hard for her. I want to pull her against me and ravage her with everything I have.

But there’s something different in her touch. A real caring feeling for me, and I can’t remember the last time another human being comforted me this tenderly. Apart from my mother, no one ever has gotten this close. I close my eyes, tilt my head back, and let the foreign and intense feeling of her touch wash over me. I should be making plans to leave the restaurant right now, but everything can wait.

“God, Kathryn.” I moan her name knowing she can hear the desperation I have for her in my voice.

“I specialize in touch,” she says seductively. I know it’s the whole Tantra thing she’s talking about. “Are you all right?” Finally I open my eyes and see her staring back at me.

Her eyes appear darker than before, more violet than blue. There’s no denying the want I see in them. She feels this thing between us, too. So I decide the time has come to act on this strange unnamed energy drawing us together.

“No, I’m not all right. But I know what will help. There’s something I’ve been dying to do to you. And you know my restraint with women. Practically non-existent.”

My actions are lightening quick. Giving her little time to think or react, I pull her to me. One of my arms wraps around her just above the hip. I bring my other hand to the back of her neck. My fingers weave through her silky hair. The scent of Shalimar floats all around us. This woman is so fucking intoxicating to me: a beautiful and alluring aphrodisiac. I feel her arms encircle me as her body leans into mine.

“I’m going to kiss you now, Kathryn.” She doesn’t protest. Instead she closes her eyes and tilts her head up closer to me. It’s then I know I’ve won the right to claim her lips. And I do.

Our lips clash and press together. Tongues searching for more. There is no beauty in this kiss. Just two people needing to satisfy a hunger that’s been building between us since we met.

My tongue delves farther into her mouth. I simply can’t get enough. Wanting to feel every inch of her body, I pull her body closer to mine and press her into my rock-hard erection.

When I place my hands on the side of her breasts, she abruptly pulls away from me. Both of us are breathing heavy, trying to catch our breaths. She’s left me standing there empty-handed and panting with need. The need I have for her is like nothing I’ve ever experienced with another woman. It’s consuming.

“Kingsley. I’m sorry. I don’t know what it is with you. But I don’t go around randomly kissing men.”

“Randomly?” Why is she telling me this? Is she denying what we just experienced? “There’s something between us, Kathryn. Can’t you feel it?”

“Lust,” she replies. “Just pure lust. Nothing more.”

“Believe me, some of the best sex comes from pure lust. It’s what heats passion. Makes us burn.”

“You mentioned it last night. Fucking for a release, right? That’s not enough for me.” She steps away from me.

“You kissed me back. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

“You’re right, I did.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.

Kathryn admits she wanted that kiss as much as I did. It’s not a great admission, but I’ll take it. There’s no denying there’s lust between us. But it’s more than a basic lust that’s satisfied with a single fuck and then burns out. It’s more consuming for me. Definitely a first. The need to be buried inside her, fucking her within an inch of her life is all I can think about even in the midst of all the shit going on tonight. She’s magnetic to me. I can’t help but be pulled toward her.

A force is pushing me beyond my normal control. A force I’ve never felt with any other woman. A force that makes me wonder who the hell I am.

I take a deep breath and say, “You can’t deny it. You feel it too, don’t you?”

She looks away from me briefly before answering my question. “Okay, maybe. Just a little. But I know about your conquests. I’ve seen you in action strutting around like a matador. Sure, your charms are enticing and deadly to women, but your treatment of them is debasing and self-centered.” She is proud of her punches, and I don’t want her to see they landed where she hopes.

“I am not one to turn down opportunities when they are presented to me. I never have to pursue the women I’m with. Never. They want me, and I simply have given them something they asked for. With both parties satisfied in the end.”

“You really are something else. I’d love to speak with the women you’ve been with and ask them how satisfied they truly were with a quick bang or the one-sided head they gave you. I bet their names, faces, and bodies all blend together. Nothing meaningful about them stands out to you”

I can see the slight flare of her nostrils. Her reaction to my philandering is quite passionate.  She thinks it’s anger, but I think it’s something else entirely: an attraction she’s trying to fight it.

“Why are you so concerned with my past pursuits? You seem very upset about my behavior, especially since there’s nothing more than lust between us. Or are you trying to fight what I think you really want: Me. You want me inside you, satisfying the desires I know you feel when you’re with me.” These words are my counterpunch, and I see they hit their target. Dead center in the bull’s-eye. Her eyes are wild with anger. Hot and intense. I have to smile at her little display. It won’t take much to have that anger of hers clawing at my back while I fuck her senseless.

“God, what is wrong you with? I’ve never met a man with such an ego. It’s why I’ve called you a boy. But you aren’t a boy anymore, Kingsley. It’s time you realized there is so much more to life than living for the next fuck or mega business deal. You need to grow up.”

What can I say to her assessment? No I don’t need to grow up?

I am at a loss with nothing to say. A familiar situation with this woman. Her words have a way of silencing me in thought. Do I really know how these women felt after being with me? They wanted my cock, and I gladly gave it to them. But that was it. No one received anything more from me. All my relationships have been skin deep.

One fuck turning into the next. One beautiful face replaced by another. One seemingly perfect body no different than the last.

Her words are like a mirror reflecting my actions back at me. I’ve never stopped and analyzed what I’ve been doing. I’ve been too busy enjoying the wave I’ve been riding. It’s who I am, no matter how hedonistic it may seem.

This whole exchange with Kathryn pisses me off. Calling me a boy, self-centered, and a debaser of women. It confirms why I don’t do relationships. Life is so much easier and simpler when I don’t have to answer to someone. Even if it’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.

“I think you’re wrong,” I tell her. “Those women willingly gave themselves to me. I bet they’d be more than happy to have another round, too.”

A sudden movement by the door of the office catches my attention. Maurice stands there shaking his head. Our argument probably carried beyond these four walls. Every thought he had of me before today was confirmed.

“Ms. Kathryn, is everything okay? I heard you two arguing. Do you want me to make this man leave?” Maurice peers at me loathingly, and there is no mistaking the disgust in his voice. He appears to stand a little taller than I remember. It’s obvious I don’t intimidate him in the least.

“My apologies, Maurice, for invading your office and subjecting you to our disagreement,” Kathryn is quick to reply. Attempting to be the peacemaker. “Mr. Kingsley just heard some troubling news, and that’s why we needed your help.”

“As long as I know you’re all right. That’s what matters.” Maurice speaks and glances at me, not hiding the distress he feels. “What else can I do?”

“My apologies too, Maurice. And I have one more favor to ask of you.” He’s looking at me out of the corner of his eye. He’s skeptical, but he’s not rejecting my request either, so I continue. “Kathryn and I need to leave via a cab. Would you mind hailing one for us while we wait by your front door?”

Maurice eyes me speculatively. There is definitely a warning in his glare. Basically, don’t you dare fuck with her, buddy. I read the signal loud and clear.

“I will help you for Ms. Kathryn’s sake.” Finished speaking to me, Maurice turns toward Kathryn with a worried look in his eye. “I hope you know what you’re doing leaving with this… this… man.”

After spitting out his last word, Maurice turns directly toward me, staring me down, squinting. “I’d rather see Ms. Kathryn with a common man who loves and respects her, and treats her like she deserves. Not a rich and famous user like you. All the money in the world can’t make you worthy of her.”

I wanted to tell him Kathryn is the kind of woman no man will ever be worthy enough to have. But I keep my mouth shut. Maurice won’t believe anything I say at this point anyway. Instead, I nod his way and bow my head.

Maurice spoke his peace, and I don’t want to provoke him further. Right now all I want to do is to get the hell out of his restaurant and go back to Kathryn’s apartment. Although she may be having second thoughts about having me there, especially after our argument and Maurice’s warning. His warning being one of many.

“I understand you want to protect me, Maurice. You’re the sweetest man in the world. I want you to know that.” She hugs him and gives him a quick, chaste kiss on the cheek.

Maurice becomes putty in her hands, and I have to laugh. She says I have the disarming charm? I think it works both ways, dear Kathryn. The difference between us is knowledge and awareness. She doesn’t have a clue what she does to men, when she releases her charms unknowingly and naturally. Unlike mine which are generally calculating and result driven.

“Since you’re father passed away so young, I feel things need to be said to this man. Believe me, your father would have agreed. I’ve never seen another man dote on his daughter like he did you. You were the apple of his eye.” Kathryn’s eyes water with the mention of her father.

Maurice hit his mark. Attacked me and upset her. I’ll be black and blue by the time we make it to the apartment, if I’m still invited. In an odd way, I feel as if he’s more a threat to me right now than Simon. He’s definitely wounding my
big
ego, as Kathryn called it.

However, his jabs stick to me and aren’t easily dismissed. The mention of her late father hits me strangely. Maybe it has to do with my own mother’s death. Unfortunately, I know the heartbreak surrounding such a loss. I was my mother’s world, too, even in her own death.

I can imagine her father walking into this restaurant with Kathryn. A pretty raven-haired young girl with a promising life ahead of her. From Peters’ report, I know he passed away when she would’ve been around nineteen. Not too much younger than when I lost my mother at twenty-two.

One thing is for sure, her father would be so proud of her today. Any parent would be. She’s a smart, not-to–be-tangled-with woman and her beauty stands alone.

Thankfully, I believe Maurice is done berating me for now. We start to make our way out of the office. The kitchen is busier than it was before, so no one even looks our way as we pass.

Once we enter the restaurant’s dining room, I see almost every table is full with customers. Eating, chatting, and paying us no mind. We are being ignored, which works into my game plan of laying low until the bodyguard arrives tomorrow, or until the police find Simon.

We stop at the front door and watch Maurice walk outside to the curb. Holding his hand in the air, he signals a cab to pull over and stop.

“He means well, Kingsley,” Kathryn quietly says.

“I know he does. He cares for you deeply. He overheard me talking to you, and it probably fueled all the rumors he’s heard about me.”

She turns her head to me as a serious expression spreads across her face. That look she gets when she’s about to lay it on me. So I stand straighter and square my shoulders in preparation.

“Are they rumors, Adam? Or the truth?”

Again, I’m left speechless after she corners me with my player reputation. I’m not used to defending what I’ve viewed as just a single guy’s carefree lifestyle.

But I can’t avoid her loaded questions: Are they
rumors or the truth
? Deep down, I know she has me and I can’t deny all the gossip is most likely the ugly truth. This time I don’t have a funny comeback to give her. Humor can’t help me here. Woman by woman, I’ve dug my own hole.

I’m not ready to tell her what I’m thinking, though. Being this exposed and introspective isn’t who I am or what I share with others. Since yesterday afternoon my whole world has tilted on its axis. Nothing seems right tonight, with the exception of being with her in this moment.

Maurice waves for us to come outside when a cab finally stops for him. I open the door for Kathryn and usher her onto the sidewalk. Maurice has the door open and waiting for us. Kathryn scoots in first, and I try to follow but feel a hand grabbing my arm, stopping me. It’s Maurice with one more thing to say to me.
Oh great
, looks like this won’t be an easy escape from him.

“Mr. Kingsley, promise this old man that you’ll be good to her.” He has a desperate look about him, like he’s begging me to answer, “yes.”

And before I can really think about the ramifications or another more appropriate response for a rakish man like me, I say, “Yes.”

The smile that appears on his face could light up Brooklyn. He’s ecstatic I’ve given him the answer he wanted, and I’m left wondering why I just agreed to his request.

Can I even live up to my what I just promised? I know I have my work cut out for me. Even I’m not fool enough to think I’m good. The real Adam is far from it.

Maurice joyfully shakes my hand and thanks me for my promise. I in turn thank him for helping us tonight. For opening his office and letting us camp out there until I knew what was going on and which direction to take.

I bid him goodbye with a quick handshake and climb into the cab next to Kathryn. She’s not on the far side of the seat, out of my reach, where I expect her to be. Instead she’s in the middle, closer to me. As I settle into my seat, I find myself sitting right next to her, leg to leg. She has a knowing smile on her face. I believe I know why. She overheard my exchange with Maurice.

“Promising an old man you’ll be good. What’s gotten into you, Kingsley? Have you fallen off your high and mighty horse?” She leans her head back and laughs at her cute remarks.

“I get a distinct feeling everyone is out to get me tonight. Simon with a gun and Maurice with his words.” I sound pitiful, even to myself.

I feel her fingers weaving through mine as she presses our hands together.  There is a distinct a warmth and togetherness in her simple act of reaching out to me.

“What do you say we both promise to be good to each other tonight?” Kathryn asks while curling her lips into a smile.

“I suppose I could manage to be good for at least one night. How hard can it be? But can you be good to me?” I say the last words in a way that clearly gives the word “good” a double meaning.

I feel her arm moving, and while still holding my hand she elbows me. A direct hit to the ribs.

“
Damn
, why did you do that?” I flinch from the pain.

“Because you’re impossible. A woman can be good to you Kingsley without having to spread her legs.”

I mutter something under my breath about strong-headed women and hope she doesn’t make out what I’m saying. There’s only so much my ribs can take for the night.

“So does the cabbie know where we’re going?” I realize I climbed in and didn’t offer directions to the driver.

“I gave him my address while you were lying to Maurice.” I stare at her in disbelief after that comment.

“Lying?”

“Oh, so it isn’t a lie, you plan on living up to that promise?” And she’s got me.

“Uncle,” I say, raising the white flag in surrender. Something I
never
do.