Authors: Audrey Carlan
“Oh my God, honey, what happened?”
I tell him the entire story, leaving out the part about coming back to the hotel with Chase, my boss. Phillip and I have very few secrets, but I want to explain the situation with Chase to him in person when Phillip is not distraught.
“Phil, I’m fine. Just shaken up.” I put on my brave girl voice.
“I’ll feel better the second I see you, Gigi,” he says softly. I know it is hard for him to hear I was hurt. We’ve been there for one another since he lost his wife Angela. He’s seen me through what Justin put me through and then again, after Daniel and I broke up six months ago.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you, too. I’ll call you when I get home, I promise.” I press my head against my arm, the pain meds make it feel like a bowling ball.
“Call me when you land, I’ll pick you up,” he suggests. He won’t rest until he sees that I’m fine. Only I’m not, and he’ll know it. The bruises and marks ringing my neck aren’t going to help. At this point I’m not sure what will.
“I’ll let you know. I have to go to the police station and make my statement today.” I sigh into the phone loudly. So much for the board meeting. It dawns on me then that I’m going to have to call Taye before I head to the station. I need to update him on what occurred last night and why I won’t be present at the meeting today. He’s going to be furious that I didn’t call him last night.
“I’ll be thinking about you. Anabelle misses you. She drew you a picture.” He laughs lightly. Phillip’s angelic daughter, Anabelle, is such a light in a dark world. Her blonde curly hair and crystal blue eyes can make any day brighter. I take my duty as her Godmother very seriously, especially since her Mother died in a car wreck two years ago.
“I miss her. Send her my love and tell her that I have a present for her.”
“I love you, Gigi.” I hear the fear in his voice. Part of me wanted to hide what happened to me from him, but the stitches and bruised cheek would lead to more questions and hurt feelings. Besides, I promised him I’d never lie to him and always be upfront.
“I love you, too. I’ll see you when I get home, Phillip.” I hang up and exhale. With great effort I stand and turn around.
Chase is standing halfway across the expanse of the room. His gaze is searing, jaw clenched so tight he could break a tooth.
“Who do you love?” comes out demanding, unforgiving.
I’m caught off guard by the rage pumping off him. I slump against the chair at the angry tone. My hackles rise, and I lift my chin, irritation setting in at his accusatory tone. “Phillip. My best friend.”
“Not your lover?” His eyes blaze, searching for an answer.
For a moment I’m lost. He has a white towel slung low over his waist and tied at one hip. Water drips down his muscled torso, rivulets trail down the square bumps of his tight abdomen, disappearing into the cotton of the towel at his pelvis. Oh what I wouldn’t give to be one of those droplets right now. I lick my lips and bite down on the bottom one.
“I asked you a question? I expect an answer.” His voice is cold.
“No. He’s not.” I leave out the part that he once was. Somehow I don’t think that tidbit of information would ease Chase right now. Besides, it was a lifetime ago. Almost as if it was something that happened in a long forgotten dream.
“I will not share you with another man.” His jaw is tight, the muscles flicking with tension like a rubber band being pulled at both ends, just on the cusp of snapping. “Once I have you, you will be mine, Gillian. Think about that before we go any further.”
His anger infuriates me. Who does he think he is? My knight in shining Armani? “Phillip is my best friend. We’ve been through a lot together, and I will not give him up for any man.” I hold my chin up and cross my arms. He watches me, detached, his gaze frosty. I don’t care. He doesn’t get to control me. No man does. “I love him dearly, but I’m not “in love” with him, nor will I ever be.” Now I’m pissed off. “You know what? I don’t need to explain my relationship with Phillip to you. I don’t even know what this is.” I gesture between the two of us.
His towel drops to the floor as he stalks to me.
Holy-Naked-God-Among-Men.
His body is incredible. Tall with broad muscled shoulders that narrow into a tight chest, lean waist and hips, thick muscular thighs, tight strong shins and calves. But nothing is quite as beautiful as his cock. It’s semi-erect, long and thick, bobbing as he makes his way across the room. It’s as if it’s straining to reach me. My mouth waters at the sight, and I want to fall to my knees and wrap my lips around the perfect knobbed head in complete adoration of its beauty.
“You see what you do to me?” He pulls me to him, tightly pressing his naked body against me. The ridge of his now fully erect cock digs into the tender flesh of my belly. My hands grapple for purchase on all the slick yummy male skin surrounding me. I whimper. My intense response is carnal, animalistic. I lick his peck, pulling in the taste of fresh water, a hint of soap and blessed man.
Chase closes me in between the wall of windows and the chair. Standing next to this wide window with a gloriously naked man pressing his tight body to my half-naked one feels electric and exhilarating.
He grasps my nape and kisses me passionately, pressing me against the chair back. Strong hands pull at my thighs, roughly hiking me up to set my bum on the edge. I wrap my legs around his lean waist as he presses his erection against the tiny triangle of fabric covering my sex before deepening the kiss. Chase is all around me and everywhere at once. His sandalwood and fruit scent strong from the shower surrounds me, pulling me into the vortex that is Chase. He wrenches his mouth away roughly. My lips feel prickly and swollen.
“Christ, I could come just from kissing you.” His forehead crinkles and he locks his gaze with mine. There’s a raging fire of lust that I desperately want to put out. Preferably with my body.
“Chase,” I say breathless, nipping at his lips, tugging on the bottom one. He groans and bites back. God, this man makes me insane. One minute he’s scolding me, the next he’s driving me wild with need.
A knock on the suite’s door breaks the spell. I pull tightly against his body, startled by the intrusion. Anger flicks on like a switch as Chase gives me one last deep kiss, grinding his erection into my parted thighs. “Soon,” he grates through clenched teeth. He unfurls my leg lock from his waist, helping me to stand against the chair. His gaze sweeps over my bare legs, up his shirt, and to my swollen lips. It’s as if he’s cataloguing every facet of my body. “You’re perfect wrapped in me,” he says seductively.
I lean stunned against the chair and so completely turned on I can hardly function. That orgasm earlier felt like a tiny miniscule appetizer to a feast of pleasure Chase is sure to provide. He picks up the towel he’s dropped and wraps it back around his waist to answer the door. I want to hiss and boo at the loss of seeing his beautiful body.
“She’ll be ready in an hour,” he says to someone, but it’s muffled. He saunters back into the bedroom. “Jack is going to take you to the station in an hour for your statement. He will bring you back to the hotel.” I open my mouth to suggest I can take a cab and he stops me. “Don’t argue with me. This is non-negotiable.”
And that is that. Discussion over. He enters the closet and pulls out his suit. I throw the scrub pants from last night back on but keep his shirt. It’s nice having something that’s Chase on me right now. I have to go. I need time to think, to process everything that’s happened. Last night and this morning. Trying to cope through a mind filled with lust is not doing me any favors. Grabbing my dirty clothes, I venture to the open bathroom door where Chase is at the mirror fixing his hair. The dark layers fall into place as he burrows his fingers through it.
“I’m going to my room to get ready. I’ll meet Jack downstairs.” He nods and fiddles with a black textured tie around his golden neck. It lies crisply against the stark white of his dress shirt. His dark charcoal suit brings out the grey flecks in his eyes. He’s meticulous in his movements, concentrating on putting on his cufflinks. They are small, dime sized circles with a black onyx gem, the sphere lined by silver plating. “Text me when you’re finished.” His eyes find mine in the mirror, the look almost pleading. His genuine concern makes me nod.
As I’m about to leave, I remember the question I forgot to ask last night. “Hey, why did you pick vanilla, emerald and popsicle as the three words you wanted me to remember?”
He grins wickedly and comes to walk me to the hotel room door. Jack is filling a giant lounge chair in the sitting room, watching as Chase holds open the door. He gestures for Jack to follow me and I realize this is going to be my new friend for the day. Chase is not letting me go anywhere alone. Since I’m still shaken, having protection isn’t all together uncomfortable. Jack does look like one scary guy.
“You really want to know?” I nod and his smile shows all his pearly white teeth. In a husky voice, dripping with innuendo, he says, “You, Gillian, smell like vanilla.” He leans down and inhales loudly before kissing my neck. “That’s the scent I want surrounding me when I look into your emerald eyes as you suck my cock as if you were eating a popsicle.” He chuckles. I know my eyes have to be as wide as dinner plates as my chin drops and my mouth gapes open. “You asked.” He laughs.
Jesus, he paints a sexy, elicit image. Then I realize we’re not alone and my gaze jets to Jack. He has the good grace to look away, a grin plastered across his square face. Heat fans across my cheeks. Chase grabs my shoulders and hauls me against him. He plunders my mouth, giving me a taste of his minty freshness and something uniquely Chase. My knees feel weak and wobbly when he lets me go.
***
After I dress, I call Taye. He’s upset that I didn’t call him last night to come to the hospital. I explain that Chase came. Quickly, I detailed the oddity of Chase helping me by telling him they found his business card in my jacket pocket from the meeting. The nurses called him, not Taye. It seems reasonable, and, technically, it isn’t a lie. He says he will touch base with Mr. Davis at the board meeting, and hopes I feel better after making my statement and resting.
Jack escorts me to the police station. The visit is horrifying. A wide array of delinquents and degenerates from all walks of life are being dragged around the facility. Even though I get a handful of stares and disgusting grins, none of them dare approach me. Jack, the “Tank”, snarls like a possessive dog would, protecting its owner when men look my way. The bodyguard must have instructions from Chase, ones he takes very seriously. The big guy doesn’t leave me alone, not even for a minute.
The officer takes me into a quiet room and Jack follows, standing in the corner watching everything without making a sound. I don’t have much to offer. My attacker came from behind, held me immobile, and then knocked me out. Nothing to see. There is little hope of getting back my belongings or finding the man who attacked me. I express my fear that my attacker has my address and personal information. The officer is less concerned because I live in San Francisco. My attacker is in Chicago, over two thousand miles away. The thought makes me feel a bit better. Not much.
When all the “I’s” are dotted and the “T’s” crossed, Jack ushers me to the waiting car. I’m happy he didn’t drive the limo today. That would have felt outlandish at a police station in downtown Chicago.
I take out my cell phone to type Chase a text message.
To: Chase Davis
From: Gillian Callahan
Statement made. Nothing more can be done. On my way back to hotel.
My phone dings with a message before I can put it back in my pocket.
To: Gillian Callahan
From: Chase Davis
Are you okay?
Those three little words make my heart jump. In the span of two days this man has become something more than the Chairman of the Board of Safe Haven. Much more. I need time away from him to figure out just how much, as well as sort out this strange connection we have. Home. That’s where I need to be. Then it dawns on me. How the hell am I going to get home without my driver’s license or identification? Worry trickles along the edges of my tired mind.
To: Chase Davis
From: Gillian Callahan
Worried about how I’m going to get home without ID.
I lean my throbbing head against the seat rest and pull the pain medication from my briefcase. It’s all I have since my purse was stolen.
“Here’s a bottle of water, Miss Callahan.” Jack hands me a bottle over the seat. I take it and smile at him in the review mirror. He doesn’t return the gesture.
To: Gillian Callahan
From: Chase Davis
I have taken care of it. You will fly home with me in the company jet. Stop worrying.
“Holy Shit! He has a company jet?” I say aloud while staring at the words on my phone. I blow a puff of air toward my heated forehead. “How rich is this guy?” Who really has their own jet? Donald Trump maybe? The President for sure.
“No, Miss Callahan. Mr. Davis does not have “a” jet; he owns a fleet of them.” My mouth drops to my chin. “Mr. Davis is worth billions,” Jack adds, very matter of fact.
I start to shake and twist my fingers together.
Billions?
I knew he was rich, but I had no idea. What could a man like that possibly want with a poor, charitable fundraiser from a broken home with a jaded past? Besides, I’m a mess. I have more than my fair share of issues and baggage, much more than any man deserves. God, knowing he’s worth so much, that he’s so valuable, makes me want to run for the hills.
We make our way back to the hotel. My head aches, my heart heavy. The linebacker follows me into the hotel room. He checks the closet, bathroom, under the bed and behind the curtains. For what, I don’t know. How an intruder would be able to get into a locked hotel room is beyond me, but I allow him to do what he feels is necessary before kicking him out.
“Mr. Davis will come for you this evening at 6:00 p.m. Be ready when he arrives. He requests that you not leave the hotel,” he announces.