Second Chance Mine, page 12
Each one held a special place in my heart.
It was hard not to compare him to what I read about in my stories, especially when he was checking every box.
How would I survive him?
In the end, it didn’t matter.
We were two crazy kids who were experiencing love for the first time together.
Our eyes were locked. Fused as one. I struggled to find my composure. Feeling his heated skin on my erect nipples only stirred my panted breaths and throbbing core.
“My top—”
“Is in my hand.”
“Can I have it back please?”
“I see. So when your tits are on my chest and your pussy is on my cock, you’re my good girl?”
“At least we know that now.”
He laughed, vibrating his dick on my clit.
“I think I need more material between my…you know…on your…you know…”
“I prefer you naked and at my mercy.”
“So naked me does it for you?”
“Sweetheart, you could be wearing a burka and it’d do it for me.”
“Good to know.” I beamed, nodding. “What happens next?”
“You’re naked in my arms, Cherry.”
He pulled me flush against him, rasping…
“Can you let a man enjoy that for a second?”
Nineteen
Paige
After I put my bikini back on, we randomly drove around for the next hour, talking about nothing in particular. He caught me up on his life. There was so much more to him I didn’t know. He was passionate about a lot of things. Particularly about being his own boss and running a big corporation one day. He said he wanted to take over companies.
His exact words were hostile takeovers.
He craved the thrill of dividing and conquering.
I let him do most of the talking, enjoying the fact I was getting to know him in a way I hadn’t before.
“If you could go back and change anything about your life?” I asked. “What would it be and why?”
“Oh, we’re back to this game? Because it’s my turn.”
“No.” I shook my head. “You lost your turn when you were a naughty boy.”
“Boy, huh?”
“Nope.” I held him in place in front of me. “No flirting until you answer my question.”
“Are you denying me?”
I giggled. “Only until you reply.”
“I hate to break it to you, Cherry, but if I want in…” He playfully yanked me toward him. “I’m getting in.”
“Stop manhandling me with your alpha super powers!”
“Stop resisting and I’ll tell you.”
I did, and he placed me in front of him with my back against the steering wheel.
“Much better.”
If there was one thing I learned about Adrian that day was how much he loved having his hands on me, and the addiction for his skin to touch mine was mutual.
Looking deep into my eyes, he finally responded, “You’d be my best friend. Not Cade’s.”
I smirked.
Gripping onto my hips, he turned me around to sit on his lap while placing my hands around the steering wheel.
I sucked in a breath, feeling his dick on my ass.
“Look at you, Cherry girl. You’re driving.”
“Yeah,” was all I could respond. “Where are we going?”
“If you keep wiggling your hips like that you’re going to find out real soon.”
“You mean like this?” I purposely rocked on him, making my stomach flutter for entirely different reasons.
Before he could make his attack, I was able to get away and reach into my purse to grab a piece of gum.
“I could give you something sweet to suck on.”
I almost choked on my gum.
Despite the awareness in his stare, I looked away. I had to, avoiding the look in his eyes.
“Come back here. I wasn’t done with you.”
As if on cue, my stomach did that somersault thing. However, this time it felt like it was never going to end, twisting and turning and flopping.
Never taking his eyes off mine, he leaned forward with a wicked grin, and I felt this jolt straight to my core. This immediate spark that made my mouth dry and my face flush, with a burning sensation all over my body.
He cunningly smiled as if he knew exactly what I was feeling, thinking, wanting.
My lips parted as he demanded, “How about you give me half that gum?”
I stuck half of it out of my mouth, thinking he was going to grab it with his fingers. He didn’t. Instead, he bit half off my lips, slightly touching his mouth on mine.
I thought he was going to kiss me, so when he started chewing on the gum while backing away, I almost threw a fit.
“It’s not nice to be teased, is it?’
I crossed my arms over my chest like a child and he laughed at my stance.
This was our dynamic for the rest of the day and it seemed to just roll by. We went from one activity to the next. My favorite was watching the sunset on the bow with his arms wrapped around me. It was such a perfect day.
Date.
I didn’t know where we went from there, but I knew I didn’t want it to end.
But he was still my best friend’s brother.
I knew I needed to stay away from him. Be true to my promise that he was off-limits.
I was Cade’s.
It was our rules I agreed to.
I never intended to hurt Cade or to lie to him.
What would happen if he found out about today?
By the time dinner rolled around, we cooked the grouper fish he caught when he was trolling a line in the back of the boat earlier that day. It was delicious. He was a great cook.
Although, we ate in somewhat silence, listening to soft music. There was this sudden tension in the air, like we both knew our time together would end soon.
After we finished eating, I excused myself to go clean up and when I walked back into the living room, Adrian was gazing up at the sky.
Lost in thought.
Looking up at the incredible night sky.
As soon as he saw me, he softly spoke, “It’s a full moon tonight.” Quickly reaching for me, he grabbed my hand and brought me over to his chest.
The song “Rock and a Hard Place” by Bailey Zimmerman was playing on the speakers. He held me against his torso, slowly moving us in a circle to the beat of the music.
I felt each lyric in the core of my being. I felt as if he chose this song for a reason, swinging me back and forth.
We danced for a little while.
Time just standing still for us.
Adrian Drake turned out to be everything I ever wanted, and no one could have been more shocked than me.
I shut my eyes, allowing the music to take over, wanting to live in this moment with him.
Where nothing else mattered but being in his arms.
I basked in his embrace, hoping this was only the beginning.
Until the song changed to a sexier rhythm. Allowing the music to take control, I seductively spun around until my back was to his front. Swaying my hips side to side, I slid my hands slowly up my waist and then my head. I ran my fingers through my hair next, lifting it up off my neck.
My breathing tethered.
My pulse accelerated.
My heart started pounding out of my chest.
I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly dry.
Almost instantly, I was engulfed in his familiar, husky scent as his lips effortlessly glided along the crook of my neck.
“Are you dancing for me?” he whispered into my ear, causing tingles to stir down my spine.
He wrapped his strong arm around my waist, tugging me closer to him. I was close enough there was nothing in between us, only the friction of our heady movements.
Desperately, I tried shoving away the guilt in my conscience of who Adrian was. As if reading my mind, he spun me to face him.
The smell of his cologne was intoxicating, luring me in with the strum of the tune still playing.
“Stop thinking. Just be with me. Right here. Right now. There is no Cade.”
“Are you thinking about him too?”
He ignored my question. “I saw and met you first. You should be mine. Not his. I can’t stop thinking about you. I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s wrong. I told myself over and over to stay away from you, but when I saw your name on that ballad, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to be the man who won you.”
“I’m not a prize.”
“You are to me. It’s not going to change anything, Cherry. You’re off-limits to me. This forbidden fruit I can’t touch, eat, but all I want is to feel and taste you in every possible way. I can’t share you with anyone else.”
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t want to stop being with you and I know you feel the same.”
“Where does that leave us?”
“Here. Now. We take it day by day.”
“What about Cade?”
He gazed deep into my eyes. “You tell me.”
This was the moment that everything changed for us.
It started there.
I put my friendship on the line for Adrian.
All it took was for him to add, “He doesn’t have to know,” for me to jump into his arms.
We stayed there dancing for the rest of the night. It was the first time I fell asleep in his strong hold until morning. We spent most of the night talking on the bow of the yacht under the stars and full moon.
I must have fallen asleep first. I came to when Adrian was laying me down on his chest in the main bedroom suite. I slept soundly. The beat of his heart lulling me to sleep.
I woke up to my back on his front with half of his body draped over mine.
Loving the feel of his hard cock…
On my ass.
Twenty
Adrian
Now: One Month Later
“Do you think you could sway your ass a little less in that skirt? My dick would really appreciate it.”
Paige grinned, looking over her shoulder as we walked into my office. “Never bothered you before.”
The last four weeks flew by with Paige by my side. If she thought I was being protective before her stalker made his presence known, she had another thing coming. Now I was adamant about keeping her next to me at all times.
Her stalker took it upon himself to begin following us around, leaving trails of pictures which were getting more and more disturbing as the weeks continued. Intimate photos where he’d have to be close to us. It wasn’t just my face he was cutting out. It was hers now too.
Along with video footage of us at random spots and these fucked up letters. The motherfucker had a funeral arrangement of flowers delivered to our hotel last week with Paige’s name on them. Things were becoming so bad I had to hire a security team to be with us twenty-four seven. I couldn’t take the chance of something happening to her on my watch.
I was at my wits end trying to find out who was doing this to her. I hired several PIs to find this piece of shit. It started to affect me in ways I didn’t see coming. The thought of something happening to her consumed my mind, interfering with my daily tasks and what needed to get done.
We were back in Kentucky for a few days. I had to make sure things were good to go on a couple of projects I had in the wings. My temper was constantly on edge, snapping at not only my employees, but Paige as well.
“Where are the numbers for tomorrow’s meeting?”
“On your desk.”
I glanced over at Paige. Her desk was in the corner of my office suite.
“It’s not here.”
“It is,” she bit in a tone I didn’t appreciate. “I put it there last night when we left at three a.m.”
“What’s with the attitude?”
“No attitude, Mr. Drake.”
“Mr. Drake?” I leaned back into my leather chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “You only call me that when you’re pissed at me. What did I do too much of or not enough of for you now?”
“Nothing, Mr. Drake. I have a full day ahead of me and you’re breaking my concentration with your constant questions.”
“Paige, look at me.”
She did with an annoyed expression taking up residence on her face.
“You’re obviously pissed. You either tell me willingly or I’ll get it out of you one way or another.”
“I told you I’m fine.”
“Fine means you want my balls.”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a child.”
“Stop acting like one and I won’t.”
“Oh, I’m the child? You’re the one who’s constantly playing games, Mr. Drake.”
“Enough with the Mr. Drake bullshit, Cherry. Open your mouth and speak to me.”
“I am! Can’t you see my lips moving?’
I rubbed the back of my neck, a headache looming. “I don’t have time for this.”
“You never have time for anything. Yet you ride my ass about everything.”
“I’ve yet to ride your ass, Paige. But all you have to do is name the time and place.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Is it that time of the month?”
She gasped. “You’re such an asshole!”
“I suggest you watch the way you talk to me. Unless you want me to finally take you over my knee.”
“I’d love to see you try.”
I was about to stand, but she stood first.
“Don’t you dare.”
I scoffed out a chuckle. I couldn’t help it.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but this has nothing to do with my cycle. And everything to do with the way you order me around.”
“You’re my EA. It’s my job.”
“No shit. The way you’re bossing everyone around is horrible. I get you’re overwhelmed with what’s happening with my stalker, but that’s no reason to take it out on us. Considering I never asked you to get involved!”
I narrowed my eyes at her, searching her face for answers I’d never find. I couldn’t believe how much she’d changed over the last ten years. It wasn’t only her face and body. It was also her personality—it was as if I was looking at a different woman. One I didn’t know anymore.
Days…
Weeks…
Years…
It had all changed Paige.
The way she looked at me with such hate physically pained me. I never thought I’d be at the receiving end of her murderous glare. Just another monster from her fairytales.
I spent a lot of time trying to catch the son of a bitch who was stalking her and not once had I heard a fucking thank you. I was at a loss, which had always been a common occurrence when it came to her. I didn’t know where to go from here.
We both lost so much. There was nothing I could do to change the past. All that was left was the present and future and I wouldn’t stop until she forgave me and was back in my bed.
The way she just stood there, her presence comforting and afflicting all at once. There was a malicious, yet captivating look in her eyes. A wall so fucking thick I’d spend the rest of my life trying to break it down if I had to. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from hers, and I didn’t want to. If only she’d give me the chance to make things right.
I could watch this woman all damn day, and it still wouldn’t be enough.
Because the truth was…
I’d take her anyway I could.
“Are you trying to get a rise out of me?”
“Why? Is it working?”
My mind spun with more thoughts and questions, trying to find some clarity. Some truth within the haze of the lies she told herself. Her pain was evident all around me, radiating deep into my core.
I could see it.
Feel it.
Breathe in it.
Showing weakness was something I never thought I’d do, but it had always been different with her, and she knew it too. There was no thinking about the future without thinking about the past, and for the first time it had me questioning how we would make it through this in the end.
“The way I handle my employees is of no concern to you. Know your role, Paige. You’re not the boss, I am.”
She snapped, “Fuck you, Adrian.” She pushed off her heels and rushed toward the door.
I was over to her in three long strides, ordering, “You don’t walk away from me.” Grabbing ahold of her arm, I turned her attention back to me. Stepping right into her personal space and backing her against the nearest wall. My six-foot-two muscular build loomed over her tiny frame as I brought her hard against my chest.
She didn’t cower; if anything, she stood taller. I cocked my head to the side, sweeping her hair away from her face to peer deep into her eyes. I locked her in place in front of me.
“Get your hands off me,” she snarled, trying to jerk her face out of my strong hold. Failing miserably at doing so. Her chest rose and fell with each word that fell off her lips, accentuating her luscious tits in my face.
I held her tighter.
To look at me.
Talk to me.
Listen to me.
Feel me…
She finally met my stare, spewing, “You know all it would take is for me to scream. One word out of my mouth and your HR department would know the truth of what you keep putting me through.”
“You really are adorable when you’re mad. Besides, we both know I like it when you scream. It makes my cock so fucking hard.” I rotated my grip on the back of her neck in a possessive act, running my thumb up and down her windpipe. I leaned in close to her lips, my mouth almost touching hers. “Now tell me what’s wrong before I lose the last bit of patience I have with you.”
Her breathing hitched and her lips parted when my other hand started lightly grazing her inner thigh.
“Adrian, stop,” she weakly let out as my fingers inched, higher and higher up her leg.
“Stop what?”
“These games you play.”
“I’m not playing with you, Paige.”
“All you’ve ever done is play with me.”
“How long are you going to keep this charade up? I’m getting tired of hearing you bitch about the past when I’m standing right in front of you now.”
