12. Austin
CHAPTER 12
Austin
“ T wo and a half martinis, huh?” Her buzz is written all over her face, making me smile. It’s not often Taylor Harrington is caught under the influence.
“Why are you here again?”
“Was in the neighborhood.” I shrug, slowly taking in her appearance. “I decided to stop in for a drink after work.” Her silky dress, already too short in my opinion, is pulled up her thigh slightly from the way she’s sitting in her chair.
“In that outfit?” She nods toward my shirt and jeans. “Looks more like you went home and changed after work for a date.” Her gaze narrows. “Wait, are you just pre-gaming here with me before your date?”
“No and I could say the same to you.” My eyes dip to where the dress exposes her slim neck and a generous portion of her cleavage compared to the necklines she normally wears. “And here I thought it was just drinks with Becca.”
“It is—was,” she says defensively. “She left early; Hector got a break in his schedule which never happens.”
“And now you’re just getting drunk alone?”
“Hadn’t really planned to.” She shrugs. “Guess I needed it more than I realized.”
I make a mental note to circle back to that comment, to try to get her to open up about what’s been stressing her out besides work.
“Macallan eighteen, double.” The bartender places the tumbler down in front of Taylor.
She picks up the glass, bringing it straight to her nose. “Oh God.” She shakes her head and slides it toward me. “I can’t drink that.”
“I take it you’re not a whiskey drinker?” He laughs, his eyes glued to her. It’s clear he’s had a conversation or two with her throughout the night. I’m not surprised. Taylor is the kind of woman who turns everyone’s head when she walks in the room. She steals the attention without even realizing it.
“I can’t do dark liquor.”
“That’s a shame.” He smiles. “I was going to offer to take you t?—”
“No.” I chuckle, reaching my hand out to hook beneath her chin, turning her face to look at me. “You’re not going to offer to take her anywhere.”
Her eyes are staring into mine, glassy and wide.
“And you’re going to drink the whiskey like a good girl, aren’t you?”
“Right,” the bartender mutters before walking away.
“Good girl?” She smacks my hand away from her jaw, making me laugh. “Trying to cockblock me? And what’s with you and that phrase?” She reaches for the tumbler of whiskey, bringing it toward her lips. “Wow.” She gasps. “That is not good.”
“Is that what I’m doing—cockblocking you?” My chest tightens at the thought that she might actually be interested in the bartender.
“Answer my question first.”
“I believe it was your phrase actually.” I reach for the glass, taking it from her, my fingers gently sliding over hers for a brief second before I lift it to my own lips and take a healthy sip. “You’re the good girl.” I slide the glass back toward her, leaning in a touch closer. “And I’m work daddy.”
I can see the physical reaction her body has when I say that phrase. Goosebumps prick the exposed skin of her arm. A gentle flush creeps across her breast and up her neck.
“Please don’t call yourself daddy again,” she says dismissively, reaching for the glass and taking another drink.
“Oh, I won’t be the one calling me that, Taylor.” My voice drops an octave and I’m not sure if it’s from the whiskey already or the tension that is growing so thick between us it threatens to suck the air from my lungs. “Now, answer my question.”
“No,” she snaps defensively, “I’m not actually interested in him.”
Her eyes stay glued to mine as I take the glass from her fingers.
“It’s a shame you don’t appreciate the taste of dark liquor because this is a damn fine whiskey.” I bring it to my nose and inhale, letting my eyes close to savor the spicy vanilla notes.
“I don’t taste anything. It just burns.”
“Here.” I hand it to her. “Try it again but this time close your eyes and let it sit on your tongue for a few seconds before swallowing.”
She lifts the glass, clearly unconvinced. Her eyes flutter closed and she takes a sip, letting it sit on her tongue like I instructed. She takes another sip, a little bigger this time. I watch as it coats her top lip, her tongue darting out to swipe away the moisture.
My cock throbs against my thigh, just the sight of the small pink tip of her tongue mixed with the whiskey has me pushing aside any inhibitions.
“I guess there’s maybe a tiny little hint of vanilla.” Her eyes flutter open. “But I still can’t ever imagine developing a taste for it.”
“Mmm, that’s a shame.” I pick up the glass and finish off the last of it, placing it back on the bar and looking over at her. Her golden hair looks angelic, tumbling over her delicate shoulders. “There’s only one thing I’ve tasted that I crave more.”
“What’s that?” She flashes a coy smile, rolling her eyes. “Let me guess. Success?”
“Not even close.”
“So help me God if you say pussy.”
“No.” I chuckle. “Although that could change.”
She doesn’t respond this time. So I let the seconds tick by, the words dangling on the tip of my tongue so close, but I know there’s no going back if I say them. My cock throbs again, reminding me of the constant torture I’ve been under for five agonizing years.
“These lips,” I say softly, reaching my hand toward her and slowly dragging my thumb across her still moist bottom lip. I let the connection linger for a second longer but before I can pull it back, her tongue swipes the tip so gently I’m not even sure she meant to.
“Fuck,” I groan, pulling my thumb back to wrap my lips around the tip, a slight moan slipping out as I savor the taste.
“What are you doing?” Her voice is just above a whisper, her eyes searching mine frantically.
“Why haven’t you posted the video, Taylor?”
“What?” Her expression turns to confusion.
“Come on, you know I’m not going to let it go.”
“Why do you care so much? I told you I was done with the account.”
Frustration threatens to bubble up. I reach over to grab the edge of her barstool and tug her closer to me.
“Hey.” She wobbles, grabbing the edge of the bar.
“Look at me.” Her eyes find mine. “Have you watched it?” Her lips part, then snap back together. “How many times?” I lean in close enough I know she can smell the whiskey on my lips. “How many times have you replayed it in your head, Taylor?”
“I need some air,” she says, grabbing her clutch and sliding off her stool after pushing past me. She doesn’t look back, just makes her way toward the door.
I’m on her heels, tossing enough bills on the bar to more than cover her drinks with a healthy tip. Before she’s even outside, my hand is on her arm, ushering her onto the sidewalk.
“I didn’t mean with you.”
“Yeah, and I don’t give a shit.” I lead us over to a bench, turning her to face me so her back is against the railing. “I’m not asking again, Taylor,” I say, placing one hand on either side of her. She stares past me for another minute before finally letting out a dramatic sigh. Her expression changes in an instant, from wanton and needy to stoic.
“Yes, I watched it and I decided it was unprofessional to post it.” She turns to look at me. “People know who you are, Austin. You’ve built this empire in less than five years and your name is in so many rich people’s mouths it just doesn’t feel like a very?—”
“Jesus, just—give me the phone.” I hold my hand out toward her, a shocked look on her face. “I know you. You’re full of shit and we both know it.”
“Excuse me? I have to think about my reputation here too, Austin. As a woman, I have to consider how I will be perceived posting a picture of me making out with my business partner!”
“Fine, don’t post it, but then tell me why you won’t even let me see the video?” She clenches her jaw tighter. “It was just a kiss, Taylor; it wasn’t making out.” I extend my hand toward her. Her face softens, her expression going from angry to almost sad-looking in an instant. “Please?”
She reluctantly opens her phone, finding the video and handing it to me. I suck in a deep breath before hitting play. I watch the kiss unfold just as I remember. My hand on her hip, the other sliding up into her hair. The way her warm, soft lips eventually part to let my tongue slide in. My body reacts like I’m holding her again, the desire to pull her closer, the need to consume her almost taking over. I glance at her, her eyes glued to the phone screen before glancing away when she notices me looking, her neck and cheeks flaming.
This is what I wanted to see. I watch myself break contact, stepping away from her and exiting her office as the camera continues to play. I watch the expression on her face, the way her eyes stay glued on me before she remembers the camera. She walks toward it and just before she ends the recording, her face comes perfectly into frame. When it finishes playing, silence hangs between us.
“So that’s why you didn’t post it.” She doesn’t reply and she won’t look at me. “Because you liked it?” Again, she stays quiet as I hand the phone back to her. “There’s no shame in that, Taylor. Fuck.” I run my hands through my hair as I lean back against the bench. “We were both attracted to each other when we met. I mean, hell, we almost kissed at my apartment the second time we saw each other.”
“But we didn’t. I stopped us because we agreed it wasn’t a good idea with us working together.”
“So now what do we do?”
“What do you mean?”
“Five years later and we’re both still attracted to each other; we know we have chemistry.” I take the opportunity to look at her, lifting my hand up to cup her cheek. “I think that video proves there wouldn’t be any issues there.” I lean in a touch closer, our lips within a few inches of each other. “And we both want to do it again.”
“Why’d you come to my apartment?” she asks and I freeze, my lips so close.
I hesitate, about to ignore the question and kiss her, but I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes so there’s no confusion on what I wanted that night.
“You know why I came over, Taylor.” I push her hair over her shoulder, taking another step closer until she’s pressed against me, the back of the bench behind her. “You’re a big girl.”
“I— We… I don’t,” she says, not wanting to admit it.
“Are you going to stop me?” My hand cradles her neck, the other sliding across the silky material of her dress till I hit the bare skin of her exposed back. I let my touch linger before sliding my hand lower to grab a handful of her ass.
“We shouldn’t.”
“Oh, but doesn’t that make it so much more exciting?” I slip my thumb between her lips again, this time her teeth sinking down into my flesh. “There’s no camera, nobody watching us.” I remove my thumb, leaning forward to nip her lip softly. “Nobody will know but us.”
I can see her resolve slipping as her eyelids grow heavier; her breathing grows more rapid until she breaks. She grabs a fistful of my shirt, tugging me forward until our lips meet.
This kiss is different.
Her lips move enthusiastically against mine, her tongue making the first move to deepen the kiss. I let her take control for a second, her other hand finding its way into my hair. She drags her long nails against my scalp, biting down on my bottom lip at the same time and sending me into overdrive. Her fingers release my shirt, sliding slowly down the front of my body till she reaches my belt.
In a flash I have her wrists pinned behind her back, my hand wrapped tightly around her hair as I bend her to my will. I devour her mouth, letting my body take control of hers until I feel her surrender to me.
“Stop.” She pushes against me, taking several steps back. “We can’t— I can’t.” I let out a huff of frustration, stepping away from her to calm down.
“We already did, baby.” The words come out in a growl as I attempt to catch my breath. “We can’t undo that.”
“I meant—” The words go unsaid but it’s clear what she meant. Her hands wrap tightly around the top of the bench as she stares back at me, like she’s doing everything she can to hold herself back.
“We can’t fuck.” I finish her thought and she nods slowly. I pull my phone from my pocket and send a text to my driver waiting down the block that it’s time to leave. “I’ll give you a ride home. Jeff is pulling up any second,” I say, referring to my driver.
“It’s fine. I could use some fresh air waiting for a?—”
“Don’t worry.” I reach for her hand and pull her away from the bench. “I wasn’t going to fuck on the sidewalk and I promise I won’t fuck you in the car either, Taylor.”
“That’s not why— I know you wouldn’t. I just need some space from you at the moment.”
“Really?” My attempt at sarcasm sounds more like frustration. “Because the way your hands were moving toward my belt, it sure seemed like you wanted me to.” Jeff pulls the car to the curb and I usher her toward it with my hand against her waist. “Don’t argue with me. Get in the car.”
She glares but climbs in, sliding across the back seat of the Range Rover until she’s against the far door.
“Evening, sir.” Jeff nods.
“Hey, Jeff, we’re going to drop Taylor off at her building first.”
“Absolutely, sir.” He nods. “Evening, Miss Harrington.” Jeff smiles at her in the rearview mirror. “Been a while since I’ve given you a ride; how have you been?”
“We’re going to need some privacy tonight, Jeff.” I reach for Taylor, tugging her across the seat until she’s next to me.
“Absolutely, sir.” He nods, reaching up to press the button that slides the privacy screen into place.
“What the fu— Austin,” she huffs, yanking her arm out of my grip. “I’m not one of your women you can boss around who thinks it’s cute to fall at your feet. I am your business partner and lawyer.”
“And none of that changes the fact you had your tongue in my mouth and if I hadn’t stopped you, your hand on my cock a few minutes ago. So cut the attitude and stop acting like just because I want to bend you over this back seat and make you forget your fucking name doesn’t mean I don’t respect you and who you are in my life. Do you understand me?”
“That is not the point.”
“Then what is the point, Taylor? Because as far as I can see, you either want to play a game of cat and mouse which I am more than happy to oblige hunting you”—I reach over and hook my finger beneath her chin—“or you want to keep me on the hook because you aren’t ready to make a decision.”
“The point is I just got out of a five-year relationship that left me feeling so confused and hurt I don’t know where to turn. The point is that kissing you was a mistake and confused me even further. The point is you’ve gone on two dates with Mia?—”
“Forget about Mia,” I blurt, “Jesus, there’s nothing between her and me. There’s nothing between me and anyone else but you.”
She blinks at me several times, then turns and sits back against the leather seat without another word. The rest of the ride is silent.
When we reach her building, I slip out of the back seat and walk around to her door, opening it for her. I slide my hand behind her back, resting it against her waist as I usher her inside the building.
Even the elevator ride is silent.
When we reach her door, she slides the key into the lock, glancing back over her shoulder at me. Gone is the frustration that knit her brows earlier, replaced with something else. Her lips part and I’m not sure if she’s about to invite me in or apologize for saying the kiss was a mistake, but either way, it’s not going to fix the situation.
“Austin.” My name sounds like a plea.
Instead of letting her say something I know she might regret, I lift my finger and press it to her lips with a soft smile.
“Good night, Taylor.”